Kangaroo Court Definition

noun

A mock court, especially one hastily improvised or irregularly conducted.

American Heritage

An unauthorized, irregular court, usually disregarding normal legal procedure, as one in a frontier region.

Webster's New World

A court characterized by dishonesty or incompetence.

American Heritage

Any tribunal in which judgment is rendered arbitrarily or unfairly.

Webster's New World

Pejorative. Of an unfair court, in which justice cannot be obtained.

Webster's New World Law

Other Word Forms of Kangaroo Court

Singular:

kangaroo court

Plural:

kangaroo-courts

First attested 1853 in a Texas context, possibly from the notion of proceeding by leaps or because the kangaroo's appearance defies nature.

From Wiktionary

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