hold court
Verb
Meaning
(of a king or other high-ranking aristocrat) To preside in a formal manner over an official assembly of courtiers and others in which entertainment is presented or affairs of state are considered.
(law, of a judge or equivalent official) To convene or preside over a trial or other legal proceeding in a court of law.
(idiomatic, by extension) To serve as the principal discussant or center of attention in an informal gathering of friends, associates, etc.
Source: en.wiktionary.orgExamples
Achievers at the festival hold court on the bowling lanes, in trivia matches and in costume contests.
On a weekday in the Manhattan neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen, a group of six men hold court at a table near the register at the back of a restaurant.
Opened New Year’s Eve 2013, today it hosts Dale Watson’s Chicken Shit Bingo on the back patio Sundays, while veteran gypsy jazzers 8 ½ Souvenirs hold court Tuesday nights.
Until the final week of February, the ravens on the city dock will continue to hold court.
Otto II proceeded to hold court in Rome, making the city his Imperial capital, where he received princes and nobles from all parts of western Europe.
Since 1 January 2010 it has been permissible to hold court proceedings in Russian by mutual consent of the parties.