What is a Kangaroo Court?
A kangaroo court is a judicial tribunal or assembly that blatantly disregards recognized standards of law or justice, and often carries little or no official standing in the territory within which it resides. Merriam-Webster defines it as "a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted". The term may also apply to a court held by a legitimate judicial authority who intentionally disregards the court's legal or ethical obligations.
A kangaroo court is often held to give the appearance of a fair and just trial, even though the verdict has in reality already been decided before the trial has begun. Such courts are typically run by authoritarian governments, and can also be found in rural areas where legitimate law enforcement may be limited.
I took that quote from Wikipedia that helps to define the term but characteristics help identify a Kangaroo court as opposed to a legitimate court system?
By this definition there are quite a few courts that I am sure do not belong as the categorization of this as such but based on this definition would seem to apply. Most notably the Supreme Court of the United states at times has made rulings that were completely contrary to the existing laws and the constitution. Similarly the US Federal Circuits have also had several rulings that even though superior courts agreed the court stepped outside the law in its decision have chosen not to overturn the decisions or have written decisions that have become defacto laws.
Why would these not be considered Kangaroo courts. What is it that I am missing from this definition that would make the courts of Saddam Hussien or Edi Amine Kangaroo courts?
