criminal court

noun

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of criminal court

: a court that has jurisdiction to try and punish offenders against criminal law

Recent Examples of criminal court from the Web

The Tarrant County district attorney's office has 30 days from Thursday to file a petition for discretionary review with the Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin, the highest criminal court in Texas.

— mitch mitchell, star-telegram, "Court denies district attorney's bid to halt new trial for man in prison for 21 years | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 2 Apr. 2018
Not unheard of While unorthodox, quick guilty pleas — in the face of a potential death sentence — are not unheard of in South Florida criminal court.

— david ovalle and glenn garvin, miamiherald, "Does Parkland shooter, a ‘broken child,’ deserve death? The legal battle looms | Miami Herald," 22 Feb. 2018
The use of material witness warrants is legal in Louisiana but came under scrutiny last year from some New Orleans City Council members after it was highlighted by a criminal court watchdog group, Court Watch NOLA.

— emily lane, NOLA.com, "2 residents want criminal probe into Orleans DA's tactics; office calls similar claims 'meritless'," 21 Mar. 2018
Online court records also show Brunt has a criminal court history in Iowa.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Indiana state trooper arrests man on run since 1996: officials," 16 Mar. 2018
Municipal courts are also seeing an increase in more serious cases as the criminal courts become overburdened.

— jim riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Waukesha municipal judge candidates see court's key role in city life," 31 Jan. 2018
Coleman insisted none of the four accusers have made a formal complaint against him, including in civil or criminal courts.

— etan vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Once Upon a Time' Actor Michael Coleman Responds to Sexual Harassment Claims Against Him," 9 Mar. 2018
He is scheduled to appear at a special Guarulhos criminal court within the next few days.

— janine puhak, Fox News, "American Airlines flight cancelled after pilot allegedly attacks ground agent," 9 Mar. 2018
Although Simpson was acquitted in criminal court, he was found responsible for the murders after a civil trial and ordered to pay the victims' families $33.5 million.

— bill keveney, USA TODAY, "Controversial 2006 O.J. Simpson interview will finally air on Fox," 1 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'criminal court.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.