friend at court—(also: friend in court) smb. in a position of influence who is willing to act in a person’s behalf:
- We felt that we always had a friend at court in Uncle Alec, no matter what we did or left undone.
friend of the court—(legal) an adviser to the court who volunteers to offer information on some aspect of the case:
- The role of the adjudication officer is to act as amicus curiae (friend of the court) assisting the tribunal in its investigation.