Majority opinion facts for kids
| Judicial opinions & aggregates for official decisions (O.S-Federal) |
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Majority opinion |
In law, a majority opinion is like when most of the judges on a court agree on a decision. It's the official choice of the court and explains why they made that decision.
Contents
How Courts Make Decisions
When judges on a court hear a case, they talk about it and then vote. Their votes lead to different types of opinions.
What is a Majority Opinion?
A majority opinion happens when more than half of the judges agree on the outcome of a case. This opinion becomes the official decision of the court. It also includes a clear explanation of the reasons behind their choice. This is important because it helps everyone understand the law.
When Judges Disagree: Dissenting Opinions
Sometimes, one or more judges might not agree with the majority. When this happens, they can write a dissenting opinion. This opinion explains why they disagree with the main decision. It shows different ways of thinking about the case.
What is a Plurality Opinion?
A plurality opinion is a bit different. It means that most judges agree on the final result of a case. However, they don't all agree on the reasons why they reached that result. So, they agree on what should happen, but not how they got there.
How the Supreme Court Decides
In the Supreme Court of the United States, most of the Justices must agree on everything in the Court's opinion before it can be made public. Sometimes, after reading early versions of the opinions, Justices might change their minds. What was once a minority view could become the majority. An opinion is only official when it's read in court or shared publicly.
What Happens in a Tie Vote?
Courts that hear appeals, called appellate courts, usually have an odd number of judges. This helps to avoid a tie vote.
When a Tie Happens
Sometimes, a tie can still happen. This might be because a judge's position is empty. Or, a judge might have to step away from a case. This is called recusing themselves. If there is a tie, the decision made by the lower court (the court that heard the case first) will stand.
