justiciable

[ juh-stish-ee-uh-buhl, -stish-uh-buhl ]

adjective

, Law.

1. capable of being settled by law or by the action of a court:

   a justiciable dispute.

justiciable

/ dʒʌˈstɪʃɪəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being determined by a court of law
2. liable to be brought before a court for trial; subject to jurisdiction

Derived Forms

• jusˌticiaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• jus·tici·a·bili·ty noun
• nonjus·tici·a·bili·ty noun
• nonjus·tici·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of justiciable¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin jūstitiābilis. See justice, -able

Example Sentences

But she added that “courts may strike down an invocation of the Alien Enemies Act under modern due process and equal protection law, justiciable grounds for checking abusive presidential action.”

From Los Angeles Times

“But under Article III of the Constitution, those kinds of objections alone do not establish a justiciable case or controversy in federal court. Here, the plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that FDA’s relaxed regulatory requirements likely would cause them to suffer an injury in fact. For that reason, the federal courts are the wrong forum for addressing the plaintiffs’ concerns about FDA’s actions.”

From Los Angeles Times

Yet it argues, in direct opposition to the legislators, that Section 3 is self-implementing and fully justiciable — that is, it requires no determination by Congress and can be decided by the court.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the most striking aspects of the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling is how much of the 213-page opinion is devoted to institutional humility: Are the issues justiciable?

From Slate

Without a justiciable issue, this Court may not hear Plaintiffs’ case.”

From Washington Times