<P> Prejudicial bias of the decision - maker or from political decree are among the most publicized causes of kangaroo courts . Such proceedings are often held to give the appearance of a fair and just trial, even though the verdict was already decided before the trial actually began . </P> <P> A kangaroo court could also develop when the structure and operation of the forum result in an inferior brand of adjudication . A common example of this is when institutional disputants ("repeat players") have excessive and unfair structural advantages over individual disputants ("one - shot players"). </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> <P> The term is sometimes used without any negative connotation . For example, many Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball teams have a kangaroo court to punish players for errors and other mistakes on the field, as well as for being late for a game or practice, not wearing proper attire to road games, or having a messy locker in the clubhouse . Fines are allotted, and at the end of the year, the money collected is given to charity . The organization may also use the money for a team party at the end of the season . </P>

Where does the phrase kangaroo court come from