gerichtlich

Gerichtlich is a German adjective meaning relating to a court or the judiciary. It is used to describe things that pertain to court proceedings, decisions, or the functioning of the judiciary. The term appears primarily in legal texts, court documents, and formal reporting.

Common usages include phrases such as gerichtliche Entscheidung (court decision), gerichtliche Zuständigkeit (jurisdiction), gerichtliches Verfahren (court proceeding), and gerichtliche Anordnung (court order). The word can appear in attributive position (das gerichtliche Verfahren) or predicative constructions (Die Entscheidung ist gerichtlicher Natur). In everyday language it is often contrasted with rechtlich, which denotes law in a broader, non-court-specific sense.

Etymology and scope: gerichtlich derives from Gericht (court) with the suffix -lich, forming an adjective that designates characteristics connected to the judiciary. It is distinct from rechtlich, which covers legality in a wider sense, not limited to court processes. The term is common in civil and criminal procedure contexts, administrative rulings, and discussions of jurisdiction and enforceability.

See also: Gericht (court), Recht (law), Rechtswesen (legal system), Rechtsstaat (constitutional state).