judicial review

plural judicial reviews

1. uncountablelawThe doctrine, implemented in varying ways in differing jurisdictions, that authorities within the judicial branch of government may examine and make rulings on the legal validity of decisions and actions of the legislative and executive branches of government and, in some jurisdictions, of others within the judicial branch itself.

   Since it appears that judicial review is here to stay, some who remain troubled by it urge that at the very least the enterprise of judges deciding constitutional questions should be limited to discovering the intent of the Framers.

   1987 January 2, Irving R. Kaufman, “Opinion: No Way to Interpret the Constitution”, in New York Times, retrieved 24 Oct 2013

   Synonyms: JR

2. countablelawA judicial process undertaken under this doctrine.

   Rowley called the federation branch “crazy” and “perverse” for throwing its weight behind Di Maria’s judicial review, painting the federation as the roadblock to much-needed reform.

   2025 April 5, John Simpson, “Police Federation under fire for backing ‘unsackable’ rogue cops”, in The Observer

   3 more examples

   [T]he senate committee on interstate commerce adjourned until next Thursday without having taken a vote on the bill or considered an amendment for a judicial review of the orders of the interstate commerce commission.

   1906 February 17, “Senate Shied at Rate Vote”, in Lewiston Morning Tribune, Idaho, USA, retrieved 24 Oct 2013, page 1

   After one of Britain's most politically sensitive judicial reviews, a three-judge court today upheld the convictions of six men for the murder of 21 people in the bombing of a Birmingham pub in 1974.

   1988 January 29, Steve Lohr, “British Back Guilt of 6, Upsetting Irish”, in New York Times, retrieved 24 Oct 2013

   "The Obama Administration continues to shield Bush-era torturers from accountability in civil proceedings by blocking judicial review of their illegal behavior," said Steven Watt, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union.

   2010 November 18, Nick Assinder, “Gitmo Inmates Settlement: Why Britain Decided to Pay”, in Time, retrieved 24 Oct 2013