kangaroo court

ˌkæŋɡəˌɹuː ˈkɔːt

1 definition

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#1·5h ago

(originally, US, idiomatic) A judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding, or a group of people which conducts such proceedings, which is without proper authority, and often acts abusively or decides unjustly.

The Concordia Intelligencer says "several loafers were lynched in Natchez last week upon various charges instituted by the Kangaroo court." What is a Kangaroo court, neighbor?

Origin: From . The etymology is ; it has been suggested that the term draws a comparison between the leaping of a kangaroo and one of the following: * The 19th-century practice of itinerant judges moving from place to place on the American frontier and trying cases speedily and perfunctorily in order to get paid. * The use of irregular courts during the California Gold Rush (1848–1855) to decide claims of “jumping” (illegally occupying) mining claims. * The notion that a kangaroo court jumps to conclusions. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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