Tribunal
In short
A tribunal is a person or group with the official power to judge disputes and make legal decisions. They often handle specific types of cases that are different from those in a standard court.
In plain words
It is a special meeting or group that listens to both sides of an argument. They look at the facts and then decide who is right or what should happen next.
A simple example
An employment tribunal might listen to a worker who believes they were unfairly dismissed from their job. The tribunal then decides if the company broke the law.
Why it matters
Tribunals provide a way to solve specific problems without the high cost or complexity of a full court trial. They help make sure specialised areas, like immigration or labour, are handled by experts.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse a tribunal with a regular court, as tribunals often have more limited powers and focus on specific subjects.