Court

A court is an institution, often granted powers by the government, authorised to adjudicate legal disputes and enforce the law where appropriate. Legal disputes in a court can vary enormously, with categories including civil, criminal, and administrative, and are defined as acts that may have breached the law of the land. In most democratic societies, it is considered a right that any individual may present their case within a court to defend their interests. This includes both the right to prosecute and the right to a defence. Court proceedings often take place within a courtroom, which itself is often contained within a courthouse. These buildings range in size, often depending on requirements. Courthouses located within cities are often far larger than rural courthouses. The authority a court holds is referred to as its jurisdiction, which dictates who may stand in the court and the processes they must adhere to. The word itself is derived from the French word cour, which means an enclosed yard, which originally derives from the Latin cōrtem. The original use of the word ‘court’ to refer to the judiciary process can be dated back to the 12th century, derived from its previous use where it was used to refer to a sovereign and their entourage.