extrajudicial

adjective

ex·​tra·​ju·​di·​cial ˌek-strə-jü-ˈdi-shəl 

1

a

: not forming a valid part of regular legal proceedings

an extrajudicial investigation

b

: delivered without legal authority : private sense 2a(1)

the judge's extrajudicial statements

2

: done in contravention of due process of law

an extrajudicial execution

extrajudicially

ˌek-strə-jü-ˈdi-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of extrajudicial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The former president denied authorizing extrajudicial killings under his crackdown but has given conflicting statements. —Jim Gomez, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Nov. 2024

The former president has denied authorizing extrajudicial killings under his anti-drug crusade, but some of his public statements have contradicted his denials. —Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 23 Nov. 2024

There is no place in it for the internment camps, extrajudicial retributions and other horrors Trump promised on the campaign trail. —Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2024

Yet law enforcement has also been implicated, with 106 extrajudicial killings reported—96 of which were carried out by police officers. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Legal Definition

extrajudicial

adjective

ex·​tra·​ju·​di·​cial ˌek-strə-ju̇-ˈdi-shəl 

1

: not involving, occurring in, or forming part of a legal proceeding

a creditor's extrajudicial repossession of property

an extrajudicial investigation

especially : out-of-court

an extrajudicial identification

2

: stemming from something outside of a court proceeding

a judge disqualified for bias that is extrajudicial and not derived from the evidence presented

3

: occurring or arising outside of the course of judicial duties

a judge's extrajudicial conduct

extrajudicially adverb