amicus curiae

noun

amicus cu·​ri·​ae -ˈkyu̇r-ē-ˌī 

-ˈku̇r-, 

-i-ˌē

plural amici curiae

: someone (such as a professional person) or something (such as an organization) that is not a party to a particular case but that is allowed by the court upon petition or by the court's request to advise it in respect to some matter of law that directly affects the case in question

called also amicus, friend of the court

Examples of amicus curiae in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Interest groups, businesses and other interested entities that aren’t parties to the case can weigh in through a second type of amicus curiae brief. — The Conversation, 24 June 2026

Trump, allowed to participate as amicus curiae, is urging her to keep the report sealed, while the groups are pressing for immediate public release. — Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

Among them was an amicus curiae signed by 200 Members of Congress urging the court to uphold the findings of the lower courts—namely, that the president overstepped his executive authority in enacting the tariffs using IEEPA. — Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2025

In addition to listing lawsuits to which Michigan has become a party, the tracker also lists all the cases in which Nessel's office has written an amicus curiae brief. — Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin amīcus cūriae "friend of the court"

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for amicus curiae

• cyperaceae
• immunoassay
• rubiaceae
• umbelliferae
• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae

Legal Definition

amicus curiae

noun

amicus cu·​ri·​ae

-ˈkyu̇r-ē-ˌī, -ˈku̇r-, -ē-ˌē

plural amici curiae

: one (as an individual or organization) that is not a party to a particular lawsuit but is allowed to advise the court regarding a point of law or fact directly concerning the lawsuit

an amicus curiae must file its brief…no later than 7 days after the principal brief

—Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 29

called also friend of the court

Etymology

New Latin, literally, friend of the court