kangaroo court

noun

1. a self-appointed or mob-operated tribunal that disregards or parodies existing principles of law or human rights, especially one in a frontier area or among criminals in prison.
2. any crudely or irregularly operated court, especially one so controlled as to render a fair trial impossible.

kangaroo court

noun

1. an irregular court, esp one set up by prisoners in a jail or by strikers to judge strikebreakers

kangaroo court

1. A court that ignores principles of justice; a court characterized by incompetence and dishonesty.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kangaroo court¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Idioms and Phrases

A self-appointed tribunal that violates established legal procedure; also, a dishonest or incompetent court of law. For example, The rebels set up a kangaroo court and condemned the prisoners to summary execution , or That judge runs a kangaroo court—he tells rape victims they should have been more careful . This expression is thought to liken the jumping ability of kangaroos to a court that jumps to conclusions on an invalid basis. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

Employee Dispute Resolution, or internal dispute resolution, has been described by clerks and attorneys who’ve participated as a “kangaroo court” that “lacks even the appearance of impartiality or due process.”

From Slate

Biden convened a “kangaroo court” — no, worse, a Stalinist show trial! — and executed “the most egregious miscarriage of justice in our nation’s history” by getting a jury to find Donald Trump guilty of 34 felonies in advance of the 2024 election.

From Los Angeles Times

The trial was “a kangaroo court,” he added.

From New York Times

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis compared the process to a “kangaroo court”.

From BBC

There was plenty of talk from other high places in the party about a “sham” trial, “rigged verdict,” “kangaroo court” and Soviet-style shenanigans, as if apparatchiks had delivered the 34 convictions, not a jury whose 12 members were selected by the defense as well as the prosecution.

From Seattle Times