court of claims

noun

, U.S. Law.

1. a court specialized in adjudicating claims against the federal government and its agencies.
2. a special state court specialized in adjudicating claims against the state, its subdivisions, and its agencies.

Word History and Origins

Origin of court of claims¹

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

Judge Mark Grisanti, an acting State Supreme Court justice in Buffalo, has been serving as a “holdover” since his term on the Court of Claims expired last year, essentially waiting to be reappointed.

From Seattle Times

Thirteen women and 95 men filed two separate lawsuits Friday in the Illinois Court of Claims against the state Department of Corrections and the state Department of Juvenile Justice.

From Seattle Times

Filed in the Illinois Court of Claims, the lawsuit names the state of Illinois and its Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice as defendants.

From Seattle Times

The Illinois lawsuit, filed in the State Court of Claims by more than 90 former juvenile inmates, described guards sexually abusing teenagers in their cells and staff members using strip searches as opportunities to commit assaults.

From New York Times

The lawsuit, filed in the Illinois Court of Claims, follows similar harrowing allegations of child sex abuse at juvenile detention centers in Maryland, New Jersey, New Hampshire, California and New York City.

From Seattle Times