<P> The term kangaroo court is often erroneously believed to have its origin from Australia 's courts while it was a penal colony . However , the first published instance of the term is from an American source in the year 1853 . Some sources suggest that it may have been popularized during the California Gold Rush of 1849 , along with mustang court , as a description of the hastily carried - out proceedings used to deal with the issue of claim jumping miners . Ostensibly the term comes from the notion of justice proceeding `` by leaps '' , like a kangaroo -- in other words , `` jumping over '' ( intentionally ignoring ) evidence that would be in favour of the defendant . Another possibility is that the phrase could refer to the pouch of a kangaroo , meaning the court is in someone 's pocket . The phrase is popular in the UK , US , Australia and New Zealand and is still in common use . </P>
<P> The term kangaroo court is often erroneously believed to have its origin from Australia 's courts while it was a penal colony . However , the first published instance of the term is from an American source in the year 1853 . Some sources suggest that it may have been popularized during the California Gold Rush of 1849 , along with mustang court , as a description of the hastily carried - out proceedings used to deal with the issue of claim jumping miners . Ostensibly the term comes from the notion of justice proceeding `` by leaps '' , like a kangaroo -- in other words , `` jumping over '' ( intentionally ignoring ) evidence that would be in favour of the defendant . Another possibility is that the phrase could refer to the pouch of a kangaroo , meaning the court is in someone 's pocket . The phrase is popular in the UK , US , Australia and New Zealand and is still in common use . </P>
where does the phrase kangaroo court come from
where does the phrase kangaroo court come from
an American source
an American source