Tribunal

What tribunal means

In practice, you will see tribunal 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 tribunal 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: Court.

How to research the term

Start with the primary source. For example, if tribunal 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 tribunal 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

• Treasury: a government department or fund that manages public money. In the United States, it usually means the U.S. Department of the Treasury. A treasury can also be the fund in which public money is kept.
• Treasury notes: U.S. government debt securities that pay a fixed rate of interest every six months and mature in two, three, five, seven or ten years. The Treasury sells them at auction through TreasuryDirect and banks or brokers. They are different from Federal Reserve notes, which are paper currency.
• Treaty: a formal agreement between the United States and one or more foreign nations, made by the President with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the Senate (art.
• Trial by jury: the right to have a jury decide the facts.

Why precise terms matter

Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.