Kangaroo court
Meaning
A kangaroo court is an unofficial judicial proceeding that disregards legal procedures, often producing a biased or predetermined verdict.
Origin
The phrase "kangaroo court" is widely believed to have emerged in 19th-century America, often associated with the chaotic boomtowns of the California Gold Rush or other frontier settlements. In these rapidly established communities, official legal systems were often absent or overwhelmed. Impatient settlers, miners, and vigilantes would convene ad-hoc tribunals, which, much like a kangaroo, were perceived to jump quickly and erratically to conclusions, often leaping over due process and established legal procedures. The term vividly captures the image of justice delivered with undue haste and a complete disregard for fairness, delivering a verdict before the "court" had even properly begun.
Examples
- The angry neighbors formed a kangaroo court, quickly deciding on a punishment for the dog's owner without hearing his side.
- He felt like he was facing a kangaroo court when the committee refused to consider any evidence that contradicted their initial assumptions.