A mock court, especially one hastily improvised or irregularly conducted.
A court characterized by dishonesty or incompetence.
An unauthorized, irregular court, usually disregarding normal legal procedure, as one in a frontier region.
Any tribunal in which judgment is rendered arbitrarily or unfairly.
Pejorative. Of an unfair court, in which justice cannot be obtained.
Origin of kangaroo-court
First attested 1853 in a Texas context, possibly from the notion of proceeding by leaps or because the kangaroo's appearance defies nature.