kangaroo court
Plural
kangaroo courts
1
an unofficial court that does not follow the rules and usually punishes people without giving them a fair trial
The exact origin of the idiom "kangaroo court" is uncertain, but it is believed to have emerged in the United States during the mid-19th century. The term draws upon the behavior and reputation of kangaroos, which are known for their hopping and unpredictable movements. It is commonly used to criticize makeshift or informal courts that lack proper legal procedures and impartiality.
- They are conducting a kangaroo court to quickly dispense with the accused's case.
- The employees believe that the disciplinary hearings at their workplace are akin to a kangaroo court.
- The activists claim that the government is running a kangaroo court to suppress dissenting voices.
- The defendant's lawyer argued that the trial was a kangaroo court due to the biased judge.
- We knew it was a kangaroo court as the verdict was reached before any evidence was presented.