adjudicate

verb

1. (transitive)To decide, rule on, or settle as a judge.

   “From the twelfth century Shetland had been administered directly by the Norwegian crown through the 'foud', rather than forming part of the patrimony of a great aristocratic estate. The foud appointed 'underfouds' and the Shetlands evolved their own elected officers, a 'lawman' and parish 'lawrightmen', who adjudicated and negotiated the collection of customary taxes and fines on behalf of the local population.”

   “Blinded to the outcomes of HPV testing, samples were thereafter evaluated by cytoscreeners using FocalPoint GS Imaging System (BD), and abnormal findings were adjudicated by pathologists.”

   “In North Carolina, provisional ballots are adjudicated to determine whether the voter was eligible to cast the ballot.”

   “The general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, who enforces federal labor law by prosecuting violations, said her office would soon file a brief in a case before the labor board, which adjudicates such questions, asking the board to reverse its precedent on the meetings.”

   “The Union Home Ministry has constituted four tribunals […] to adjudicate whether or not there are sufficient grounds for declaring several Jammu and Kashmir-based groups as banned organisations […]”

2. (intransitive, often)To act as a judge.

   “A Court of Arbitration, constituted by the World Bank in The Hague, has brushed aside New Delhi’s objections and concluded that it has the competence to adjudicate on Pakistan’s objection to the Kishenganga and Ralte hydroelectric projects of India.”

3. (transitive)To seize or convey as security.