palm tree justice

noun

A flexible, discretionary approach to legal decision making that prioritizes fairness in specific circumstances over strict adherence to legal precedents or rights.

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Meanings

nounpalm tree justice (uncountable)
  1. derogatoryuncountablelawA flexible, discretionary approach to legal decision making that prioritizes fairness in specific circumstances over strict adherence to legal precedents or rights.

    […] vary agreed or established rights to property in an endeavor to achieve a kind of palm tree justice […]

    1965, National Provincial Bank v. Hastings Car Mart, [1965] 8. W.L.R. 1 at p. 11, per Lord Hodson

Origin

According to the Chambers Dictionary (Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap, 1998) the phrase is “from the old Arabic or Jewish idea of a wise man dispensing justice under a palm tree.” Namely: And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. (Judges 4:5)

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Cite this entry
APA

palm tree justice. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/palm%20tree%20justice

MLA

“palm tree justice.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/palm%20tree%20justice. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “palm tree justice,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/palm%20tree%20justice.

Source: palm tree justice on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.