Judiciary

Sometimes also known as judicature, the judicial system, judiciary system, or judicial branch, the judiciary is the court system that manages legal disputes and interprets, applies, and upholds the law. It can be more easily thought of as the mechanism for settling legal disputes of all kinds. It does not necessarily enforce the law. That is often the responsibility of the executive or assigned law enforcement, such as the police. The judiciary, rather, defends cases and ensures the law is upheld with relation to specific breaches and circumstances. Depending on varying jurisdictions, the judiciary may also hold the power to change laws through a process known as judicial review. Courts granted judicial power in this way may annul or instate laws that are either incompatible or necessary to maintain the preferred norm. Judiciaries often function by interpreting constitutions, regulations, or statutes, or a combination of all three, to interpret and uphold the law. The existence of the judiciary dates back to the Middle Ages and developed in tandem with the emergence of greater education and literacy.