assembly - a group of persons gathered together for a common purpose

International Court of Justice, World Court - a court established to settle disputes between members of the United Nations

Bench - the magistrate or judge or judges sitting in court in judicial capacity to compose the court collectively

appeals court, appellate court, court of appeals - a court whose jurisdiction is to review decisions of lower courts or agencies

assizes, court of assize, court of assize and nisi prius - the county courts of England (replaced in 1971 by crown courts)

chancery, court of chancery - a court with jurisdiction in equity

consistory - a church tribunal or governing body

criminal court - a court having jurisdiction over criminal cases

divorce court - a court having jurisdiction over the termination of marriage contracts

court of domestic relations, domestic relations court, family court - a court in some states in the United States that has jurisdiction over family disputes (especially those involving children)

federal court - a court establish by the authority of a federal government

F.I.S.C., Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court - a secret federal court created in 1978 by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; responsible for authorizing wiretaps and other forms of electronic surveillance and for authorizing searches of suspected spies and terrorists by the Department of Justice or United States intelligence agencies

inferior court, lower court - any court whose decisions can be appealed to a higher court

Inquisition - a former tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church (1232-1820) created to discover and suppress heresy

juvenile court - a court having jurisdiction over dependent and delinquent children

kangaroo court - an irregular unauthorized court

military court - a court of commissioned officers for the discipline and punishment of military personnel

moot court - a mock court where law students argue hypothetical cases

police court - a court that has power to prosecute for minor offenses and to bind over for trial in a superior court anyone accused serious offenses

probate court - a court having jurisdiction over the probate of wills and the administration of estates

quarter sessions - a local court with criminal jurisdiction and sometimes administrative functions

Rota - (Roman Catholic Church) the supreme ecclesiastical tribunal for cases appealed to the Holy See from diocesan courts

Star Chamber - a former English court that became notorious for its arbitrary methods and severe punishments

superior court - any court that has jurisdiction above an inferior court

high court, state supreme court, supreme court - the highest court in most states of the United States

traffic court - a court that has power to prosecute for traffic offences

trial court - the first court before which the facts of a case are decided

jury - a body of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law

authorities, government, regime - the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit; "the government reduced taxes"; "the matter was referred to higher authorities"

Federal Judiciary - the judiciary of the United States which is responsible for interpreting and enforcing federal laws

system, scheme - a group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole; "a vast system of production and distribution and consumption keep the country going"

administration, disposal - a method of tending to (especially business) matters

jurisprudence, law - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"

prejudice - disadvantage by prejudice

berth, billet, post, situation, position, office, place, spot - a job in an organization; "he occupied a post in the treasury"