chief justice

noun

: the presiding or principal judge of a court of justice

Examples of chief justice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The chief justice should create and enforce a new norm for the court: if lower court decisions are going to be reversed in important cases, the justices should say why. Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 22 July 2025 That means Karofsky will take over as chief justice on July 1. Mary Spicuzza, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025 Despite the vicious acts of brutality and a plea from the chief justice, the judiciary is battling for its own protection. Andre M. Davis, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2025 Consider the chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, Kimberly Budd, a $232,101-a-year second-generation hack. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for chief justice

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chief justice was in 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Chief justice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chief%20justice. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

chief justice

noun
: the presiding or principal judge of a court of justice

Legal Definition

chief justice

noun
: a chief judge of a usually higher level court
specifically, often capitalized : the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
chief justiceship noun

More from Merriam-Webster on chief justice

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