benchslap

English

Etymology

Blend of bench +‎ bitch slap

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Noun

benchslap (plural benchslaps)

(slang, law) A judicial ruling or opinion that is harsh or humiliating towards a particular party, attorney, or lower court opinion.
- 2012, Mark V. Holmes, United States Tax Court, Tigers Eye Trading, LLC v. Commissioner (dissenting), 138 T.C. No. 6, p. 211.
  Of all the routines in judicial gymnastics, few have a higher degree of difficulty than the reverse benchslap, and we're trying for a combination double with our Opinion today.

Verb

benchslap (third-person singular simple present benchslaps, present participle benchslapping, simple past and past participle benchslapped)

(slang, law) To issue a judicial ruling or opinion that is harsh or humiliating towards a particular party, attorney, or lower court opinion.