chief justice

noun

: the presiding or principal judge of a court of justice

Examples of chief justice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Florida signers include former ABA president Martha Barnett and two retired state Supreme Court chief justices, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince. Barnett and Quince are board members of Lawyers Defending American Democracy, which filed the complaint. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2025 Among them is a new chief justice, Hugo Aguilar, who would become the country’s first top jurist of Indigenous origin since the legendary Benito Juárez, who also served as president, more than a century and a half ago. Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025 The chief justice's order allows the Supreme Court more time to consider the Trump administration's request for emergency relief, which was filed with the high court earlier this week. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 23 May 2025 At one point, Roberts was asked about recent calls to impeach judges who have ruled against Trump administration policies, but the chief justice merely pointed to his earlier rebuke of the calls. Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for chief justice

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chief justice was in 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Chief justice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chief%20justice. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

chief justice

noun
: the presiding or principal judge of a court of justice

Legal Definition

chief justice

noun
: a chief judge of a usually higher level court
specifically, often capitalized : the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
chief justiceship noun

More from Merriam-Webster on chief justice

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