court of record: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

No. While a supreme court is always a court of record, many lower-level courts (like district or county courts in the US, or the Crown Court in the UK) are also courts of record. 'Court of record' refers to the authority to keep permanent records, not its position in the judicial hierarchy.

Decisions from a court of record carry significant legal weight and authority. Ignoring its final orders (like an injunction) can result in serious consequences, including being held in contempt of court, which may lead to fines or imprisonment.

The distinction is crucial for legal procedure. It affects the right to appeal (an appeal usually requires a transcript from a court of record), the finality of judgments, and the court's inherent powers to enforce its orders and manage its proceedings.

Yes, the concept is a feature of common law systems (e.g., Canada, Australia, India). In civil law systems, the functional equivalent involves different principles of court administration and record-keeping, so the specific term is less commonly used.

A court whose proceedings and judgments are preserved as a permanent, official record and which has the power to punish for contempt.

Court of record is usually formal, technical/legal in register.

Court of record: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːt əv ˈrekɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɔrt əv ˈrekərd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.