court of justiciary: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareTechnical/Formal/Legal
Quick answer
What does “court of justiciary” mean?
A court which has jurisdiction over criminal cases.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A court which has jurisdiction over criminal cases.
Specifically, in Scots law, the supreme criminal court of Scotland, comprising the High Court of Justiciary, with exclusive jurisdiction for serious crimes and appellate jurisdiction over all criminal courts. Historically, it refers to any court administering criminal justice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the term is almost exclusively used within the context of Scots law. In American English, the term is not used in the domestic legal system and would only appear in historical contexts or in reference to Scottish law.
Connotations
In UK/Scotland: Connotes supreme legal authority in criminal matters, formality, and Scottish legal tradition. In US: An obscure, foreign legal term.
Frequency
Virtually unused in American English. Low frequency even in British English outside of Scottish legal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “court of justiciary” in a Sentence
The Court of Justiciary [verb: sits, hears, ruled, has jurisdiction]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “court of justiciary” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The case will be justicied in the High Court next month. (Rare/archaic)
American English
- Not used.
adverb
British English
- Not used.
American English
- Not used.
adjective
British English
- The justiciary powers are clearly defined in the statute. (Technical)
American English
- Not used.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in law textbooks, historical studies, and comparative law papers focusing on Scottish or British legal systems.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Core term in Scots criminal law; appears in legal judgments, statutes, and procedural rules.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “court of justiciary”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “court of justiciary”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “court of justiciary”
- Confusing it with civil courts.
- Using lowercase for the specific Scottish institution.
- Assuming it exists in other common law jurisdictions like the US or England.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. For Scottish criminal cases, the High Court of Justiciary is the court of last resort. The UK Supreme Court only hears criminal appeals from Scotland on rare, specific devolution issues, not on general criminal law.
It is very archaic to do so. In modern English, 'justiciary' is almost exclusively used as part of the proper noun 'Court of Justiciary'. Use 'judicial' for the adjective.
No. England and Wales have the Crown Court for serious criminal trials and the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) for appeals. The term is unique to Scotland.
The Court of Session is Scotland's supreme civil court. The Court of Justiciary is Scotland's supreme criminal court. They are separate institutions, though some judges (Lords of Session) also serve as judges of the High Court of Justiciary.
A court which has jurisdiction over criminal cases.
Court of justiciary is usually technical/formal/legal in register.
Court of justiciary: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːt əv dʒʌˈstɪʃ(ə)ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːrt əv dʒəˈstɪʃiˌeri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Justiciary' sounds like 'justice' – it's the court where criminal justice is administered, specifically in Scotland.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A FORTRESS (The Court of Justiciary is the ultimate fortress of criminal law in Scotland).
Practice
Quiz
The 'Court of Justiciary' is primarily associated with which jurisdiction?