judicial review

[ joo-dish-uhl ri-vyoo ]

noun

1. the power of a court to adjudicate the constitutionality of the laws of a government or the acts of a government official.

judicial review

1. The principle by which courts can declare acts of either the executive branch or the legislative branch unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has exercised this power, for example, to revoke state laws that denied civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution . ( See also checks and balances .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of judicial review¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

The person who must decide is Andrew Stewart, better known by his judicial title, Lord Ericht, who is presiding over this judicial review of the UK government's decisions to approve the fields.

From BBC

In the judicial review at the Court of Session, environmental groups Greenpeace and Uplift are arguing that this means work on Rosebank and Jackdaw should be paused while fuller environmental impact assessments are carried out.

From BBC

A judicial review brought jointly by the environment groups Greenpeace and Uplift is due to be heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

From BBC

The Unite union has called on the government to reverse its decision to cut the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners or has warned it may face judicial review.

From BBC

And unhappiness on the left about the two-child benefit cap, and the winter fuel allowance, remains - with a judicial review of the decision on those pensioner payments in the offing.

From BBC