chief justice

[ cheef juhs-tis ]

noun

1. Law. the presiding judge of a court having several members.
2. (initial capital letters) Official_title Chief Justice of the United States. the presiding judge of the U.S. Supreme Court.

chief justice

noun

1. (in any of several Commonwealth countries) the judge presiding over a supreme court
2. (in the US) the presiding judge of a court composed of a number of members

Derived Forms

• chief justiceship, noun

Other Words From

• chief jus·tice·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chief justice¹

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

The Supreme Court justices who decided the Integrity case make $244,440 a year (Chief Justice Roberts makes $255,500).

From The Daily Beast

Thank you, Chief Justice Roberts, et al., for opening the floodgates of political campaign donations.

From The Daily Beast

Watkins recently wrote to the Supreme Court urging Chief Justice John Roberts to take action against Fuller.

From The Daily Beast

In the 1960s, billboards in conservative parts of the country urged, “Impeach Earl Warren,” the liberal chief justice.

From The Daily Beast

The chief justice seemed to be arguing that anything short of hostility or blatant evangelism was kosher.

From The Daily Beast

John Wilkes released from the tower by the memorable sentence of chief justice Pratt.

From Project Gutenberg

Daniel Wells, chief justice of the court of common pleas of Massachusetts, died at Cambridge, aged 63.

From Project Gutenberg

If the road is to be made and opened, as our new Chief Justice promises, it will be one of the most beautiful roads in the world.

From Project Gutenberg

On this occasion the lord-chief-justice Denman spoke on the question for the first time.

From Project Gutenberg

This calamity, Mr. Chief Justice, is not confined to the bar or the courts of this Commonwealth.

From Project Gutenberg