noun
full court; grand bench
Refers specifically to the full bench of the Supreme Court of Japan, consisting of all 15 justices, as opposed to a petty bench (小法廷). Used in legal contexts.
最高裁判所の大法廷で判決が言い渡された。
The ruling was handed down by the Grand Bench of the Supreme Court.
A petty bench of the Supreme Court, consisting of five justices, as opposed to the full 15-justice grand bench (大法廷).
Compound of 大 (dai, 'large') and 法廷 (hōtei, 'courtroom'), literally 'large courtroom', referring to the full bench of the Supreme Court.