1. The judicial branch of government.
2. 1. A system of courts of law for the administration of justice.
   2. The judges of these courts.

[Probably from Latin iūdiciārius, of the courts, from iūdicium, judgment, from iūdex, iūdic-, judge. See judge.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.