Judicial activism
WordNet
noun
(1) An interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)
WiktionaryText
Noun
- the act of replacing an impartial interpretation of existing law with the judge's personal feelings about what the law should be
Usage notes
This phrase is a political epithet applied to judges who allegedly exceed their authority.