judicature

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

judicature
    n 1: an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct
         judicial business [syn: {court}, {tribunal}, {judicature}]
    2: the system of law courts that administer justice and
       constitute the judicial branch of government [syn:
       {judiciary}, {judicature}, {judicatory}, {judicial system}]
    3: the act of meting out justice according to the law [syn:
       {administration}, {judicature}]
    4: the position of judge [syn: {judgeship}, {judicature}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Judicature \Ju"di*ca*ture\ (?; 135), n. [F., fr. LL.
   judicatura.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. The state or profession of those employed in the
      administration of justice; also, the dispensing or
      administration of justice.
      [1913 Webster]

            The honor of the judges in their judicature is the
            king's honor.                         --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A court of justice; a judicatory. --South.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The right of judicial action; jurisdiction; extent
      jurisdiction of a judge or court.
      [1913 Webster]

            Our Savior disputes not here the judicature, for
            that was not his office, but the morality, of
            divorce.                              --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

JUDICATURE. The state of those employed in the administration of justice, 
and in this sense it is nearly synonymous with judiciary. This term is also 
used to signify a tribunal; and sometimes it is employed to show the extent 
of jurisdiction, as, the judicature is upon writs of error, &c. Com. Dig. 
Parliament, L 1; and see Com. Dig. Courts, A.

from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

29 Moby Thesaurus words for "judicature":
      Areopagus, adjudgment, adjudication, arbitrament, arbitration,
      board, choice, council, court, court of arbitration,
      court of justice, court of law, curia, deeming, discrimination,
      forum, good judgment, inquisition, judging, judgment, judicatory,
      judicial process, judiciary, justice, law court, legal tribunal,
      the Inquisition, the courts, tribunal