A decision reached by a judge in a case based on facts and law. Court decisions can be oral or written and are generally very long. A court decision can include the legal reasoning for the outcome, the court’s holding and its orders (which tell parties what they must do). See also case law and statute.
Advice formally offered to the court by an entity interested in, but not a party to, a lawsuit in the form of a written argument or response to a complaint filed against a person or business. This document must be filed with the district court in which the case was heard before an appeal can be considered by an appellate court.
A ruling made by a judge or jury after hearing evidence and arguments. The court’s order may dismiss the action, award damages or affirm or modify a previous judgment.
A Court’s written opinion on a case that is published and made available to the public. Not all decisions produce opinions, but those that do usually have a syllabus (an overview of the background of the case) and one or more opinions. The opinions in a case are often divided into the majority and dissenting views. A dissenting opinion disagrees with the majority view of a case, while a concurring opinion agrees with the result or conclusion, but offers additional comment, clarification or different reasons to reach the same conclusion. Typically, only the majority opinion can be used as binding precedent in future cases.
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