of course

1.  In the customary or expected order, naturally, as in The new minister did not, of course, fire the church secretary. This usage, first recorded in 1548, employs course in the sense of "ordinary procedure."
2.  Certainly, as in Of course I'll answer the phone, or Are you going to the meeting?--Of course. [Early 1800s] Also see matter of course.

Any action or step that an individual might take during judicial proceedings without being required to ask the judge's permission or that will receive the judge's automatic approval if the individual does ask permission; that which is a matter of right.

The adverb has one meaning:

Meaning #1: as might be expected
  Synonyms: naturally, course