司法
しほう · shihou · JLPT N1 · noun
justice
⚖️ 司 (oversee, run) + 法 (law) = running the law: administration of justice
司 means to oversee or run something, and 法 means law, so 司法 is the machinery that runs the law. Compare 司令 (commander), someone who runs the troops.
法 — water 氵 + go 去
Originally written 灋, combining the water radical 氵 (suggesting a level standard, like water finding its level), the mythical beast 廌 (which judged guilt), and 去 (to remove or banish). The 廌 was later dropped, leaving 法. The core meaning evolved from 'law' or 'standard' to also include 'method' and 'way of doing'.