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 Supreme Court of Texas' new chief justice is calling on the Legislature to significantly raise judicial salaries across the state as the Senate Finance Committee works through its budget bill. Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 Or his era as chief justice on the Supreme Court, presiding over the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson. Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 The bill would allow the chief justice of the U.S., instead of the president, to appoint a director of the Marshals Service, which currently operates within the Department of Justice at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi. Ray Lewis, Baltimore Sun, 23 May 2025 The chief justice also spoke about his previous statement on the calls for impeachment, saying in part that that's what the Supreme Court is there for—to handle disagreement. Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 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 16 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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