What's the difference between "judicial" and "juridical"?

Solution 1:

Historically there was no difference, and I suspect that is still so in some parts of the world. But in the British legal system at least there is a valuable difference, namely that juridical relates to the system of justice generally whereas judicial refers specifically to the acts of a judge. So if a judge says "You will go to jail for contempt" that is a judicial order; but there is a considerable amount of juridical paperwork to be completed.

You can, for example, buy books of precedents, and if they refer to court papers they are sometimes called juridical styles. But if a judge thinks the form is a bad one, there may be a footnote saying Judicially disapproved.

Solution 2:

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The adjective juridical means “relating to the administration of the law.”

The adjective judicial means “relating to courts of law or judges.”

We can talk about the judicial system (the organization of courts and judges) or a judicial decision (one made by a judge).

We can talk about a juridical interpretation of an action (strictly according to the law) or a juridical system (a body of laws by which a state or organization is governed).

That may outline the essential difference, for now.

Solution 3:

In the US, I would say that "judicial" relates to the courts of law or to the legal system. And "juridical" I would not use myself.