Tribunal vs. Court — What's the Difference?

Specialized forum for specific disputes.

Judicial body for administering justice.

May or may not have legal binding authority.

Follows strict procedural rules.

Established for swift resolutions.

Decisions often perceived as highly authoritative.

Often less formal than traditional courts.

A court is any person or institution, often as a government institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law. In both common law and civil law legal systems, courts are the central means for dispute resolution, and it is generally understood that all people have an ability to bring their claims before a court.

A tribunal, generally, is any person or institution with authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title. For example, an advocate who appears before a court with a single judge could describe that judge as "their tribunal." Many governmental bodies that are titled as "tribunals" are described so in order to emphasize that they are not courts of normal jurisdiction.

An extent of open ground partially or completely enclosed by walls or buildings; a courtyard.

A law court.

Abbr. Ct. A short street, especially a wide alley walled by buildings on three sides.

The bench where a judge or other presiding judicial officer sits in court.

A large open section of a building, often with a glass roof or skylight.

The place where a session of court is held.

A large building, such as a mansion, arranged around a courtyard.

A committee or board appointed to adjudicate in a particular matter.

The place of residence of a sovereign or dignitary; a royal mansion or palace.

Something that has the power to determine or judge

The retinue of a sovereign, including the royal family and personal servants, advisers, and ministers.

(legal) An assembly including one or more judges to conduct judicial business; a court of law.

A sovereign's governing body, including the council of ministers and state advisers.

A kind of village hall used to transact business, to quarter troops and travellers, and to confine prisoners.

A formal meeting or reception presided over by a sovereign.

The seat of a judge; the bench on which a judge and his associates sit for administering justice.

A person or body of persons that presides over the hearing of cases; a judge or panel of judges.

Hence, a court or forum; as, the House of Lords, in England, is the highest tribunal in the kingdom.

The building, hall, or room where cases are heard.

In villages of the Philippine Islands, a kind of townhall. At the tribunal the head men of the village met to transact business, prisoners were confined, and troops and travelers were often quartered.

The session at which cases are heard.

An assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

An ecclesiastical court.

Derived from administrative or specialized needs.

(Sports) An open level area marked with appropriate lines, upon which a game, such as tennis, handball, or basketball, is played.

The body of directors of an organization, especially of a corporation.

A legislative assembly.

To attempt to gain; seek

To behave so as to invite or incur

To try to gain the love or affections of, especially to seek to marry.

To attempt to gain the favor of by attention or flattery

(Zoology) To behave so as to attract (a mate).

To pursue a courtship; woo.

(Zoology) To engage in courtship behavior.

An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.

A street with no outlet, a cul-de-sac.

A housing estate under the House Ownership Scheme.

An apartment building, or a small development of several apartment buildings.

(social) Royal society.

The residence of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or other dignitary; a palace.

The collective body of persons composing the retinue of a sovereign or person high in authority; all the surroundings of a sovereign in his regal state.

Any formal assembling of the retinue of a sovereign.

Attention directed to a person in power; behaviour designed to gain favor; politeness of manner; civility towards someone

(law) The administration of law.

The hall, chamber, or place, where justice is administered.

The persons officially assembled under authority of law, at the appropriate time and place, for the administration of justice; an official assembly, legally met together for the transaction of judicial business; a judge or judges sitting for the hearing or trial of cases.

(often capitalized) The judge or judges or other judicial officer presiding in a particular matter, particularly as distinguished from the counsel or jury, or both.

The session of a judicial assembly.

Any jurisdiction, civil, military, or ecclesiastical.

(sports) A place arranged for playing the games of tennis, basketball, handball, badminton, volleyball, squash and some other games

One of the two divisions of a tennis, badminton or volleyball court, in which the player or players of each team play

(transitive) To seek to achieve or win.

(transitive) To risk (a consequence, usually negative).

(transitive) To try to win a commitment to marry from.

(transitive) To engage in behavior leading to mating.

(transitive) To attempt to attract.

(transitive) To invite by attractions; to allure; to attract.

(transitive) To attempt to gain alliance with.

(intransitive) To engage in activities intended to win someone's affections.

(intransitive) To engage in courtship behavior.

An inclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different building; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.

The residence of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or other dignitary; a palace.

The collective body of persons composing the retinue of a sovereign or person high in authority; all the surroundings of a sovereign in his regal state.

Any formal assembling of the retinue of a sovereign; as, to hold a court.

Attention directed to a person in power; conduct or address designed to gain favor; courtliness of manners; civility; compliment; flattery.

The hall, chamber, or place, where justice is administered.

The session of a judicial assembly.

Any jurisdiction, civil, military, or ecclesiastical.

A place arranged for playing the game of tennis; also, one of the divisions of a tennis court.

To endeavor to gain the favor of by attention or flattery; to try to ingratiate one's self with.

To endeavor to gain the affections of; to seek in marriage; to woo.

To attempt to gain; to solicit; to seek.

To invite by attractions; to allure; to attract.

To play the lover; to woo; as, to go courting.

An assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

The sovereign and his advisers who are the governing power of a state

A specially marked area within which a game is played;

A room in which a law court sits;

A yard wholly or partly surrounded by walls or buildings;

The residence of a sovereign or nobleman;

The family and retinue of a sovereign or prince

A hotel for motorists; provides direct access from rooms to parking area

Australian woman tennis player who won many major championships (born in 1947)

Respectful deference;

Make amorous advances towards;

Seek someone's favor;

Engage in social activities leading to marriage;

Authority spans over criminal and civil matters.

Integral to the legal system of a jurisdiction.

A Court, especially higher courts, usually holds more authority and can sometimes review or override Tribunal decisions.

Not always. The binding nature of a Tribunal's decision varies based on its jurisdiction and mandate.

No, not all Court cases involve juries. It depends on the jurisdiction and nature of the case.

Yes, in many Tribunals, individuals can represent themselves, although legal representation is often advisable.

A Court judge typically has broader legal training, while a Tribunal adjudicator might be an expert in a specific field.

Often, yes. Many Tribunal decisions can be appealed in a higher Court if procedural or legal errors are alleged.

Yes, there are international Tribunals, like those for war crimes or maritime disputes.