Judiciary

What judiciary means

In practice, you will see judiciary in pleadings, motions, orders and court rules. The definition above explains the general meaning. Even so, the meaning can shift with context. Therefore, always read it alongside the rule or document where it appears.

Where judiciary comes up

The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.

Read the source: Judicial.

How to research the term

Start with the primary source. For example, if judiciary appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read judiciary in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.

You can read the current federal court rules online for free.

Related legal terms

• Judgment debtor: a party who owes money under a judgment.
• Judicial: relating to the courts, judges or the administration of justice. For example, judicial power is the power to decide cases, and a judicial act is one a judge performs in that role.
• Judicial foreclosure: foreclosure carried out through a lawsuit and a court judgment before the property is sold.
• Judicial notice: a court's acceptance of a fact as true without formal proof because it is not subject to reasonable dispute — it is generally known within the trial court's territorial jurisdiction, or can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned (Fed. R. Evid. 201(b)).

Why precise terms matter

Legal words often look like everyday words, but they can carry a precise meaning. Because of that, a small misreading can change how you understand a deadline, a duty or a right. Our glossary keeps each definition short and links it to the procedures where it matters.