1. courts of law or other tribunals that administer justice
Usage: formal; legal
2. ecclesiastical courts or governing bodies in certain religious denominations
Usage: religious; formal

Examples

• The state's judicatories were overwhelmed with cases during the legal reform period.
• Appeals were filed with the higher judicatories for review.
• The Presbyterian Church operates through a system of judicatories at different levels.
• Local judicatories handle most routine legal matters.
• The ecclesiastical judicatories met to discuss church discipline policies.
• Federal judicatories have jurisdiction over interstate commerce disputes.