judicial review

noun

1
2
: a constitutional doctrine that gives to a court system the power to annul legislative or executive acts which the judges declare to be unconstitutional

Examples of judicial review in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The law expanded enforcement of federal immigration law to state and local officers and limited judicial review for certain decisions. Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2026 Similar disputes involving Guard deployments in Oregon and Illinois are moving through the courts, with several judges, including conservative appointees, expressing skepticism about claims that such decisions are beyond judicial review. Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025 Still, the association hopes to get the courts to once more invalidate the Boise City Council’s approval of a permit for the shelter’s construction and declare the City Council’s actions unlawful, according to the petition for judicial review the association filed in Ada County District Court. Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 13 Dec. 2025 This places judicial review of removal orders solely before courts of appeals, not district courts. New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for judicial review

Word History

First Known Use

1771, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of judicial review was in 1771

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Cite this Entry

“Judicial review.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judicial%20review. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.

Legal Definition

judicial review

noun
1
: review
2
: a constitutional doctrine that gives to a court system the power to annul legislative or executive acts which the judges declare to be unconstitutional
also : the process of using this power see also checks and balances, Marbury v. Madison

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