Judicial opinion facts for kids
A judicial opinion is like a special report written by a judge or a group of judges. It explains how they decided a legal dispute, which is basically a disagreement or problem brought to court. This report tells everyone what the final decision is and why the judges made that choice.
When several judges work on a case, they might write different kinds of opinions.
Contents
What Are Judicial Opinions?
A judicial opinion is a written explanation from a judge or a group of judges about a court case. It's their way of telling everyone how they solved a problem or disagreement. This document shares the final decision and the reasons behind it. Think of it as a detailed report card for a court case!
Different Types of Opinions
When more than one judge is working on a case, they don't always agree completely. Because of this, there can be different types of opinions written.
Majority Opinion: The Main Decision
A majority opinion is the most important type of opinion. It means that more than half of the judges on the court agree on the decision and the reasons for it. This opinion becomes the official decision of the court for that specific case. It's like when most of your friends agree on a plan – that's the plan you go with!
Concurring Opinion: Agreeing, But With Different Reasons
Sometimes, a judge might agree with the final decision of the court, but they have different reasons for reaching that decision. When this happens, they write a concurring opinion. It's like agreeing to go to the park, but wanting to take a different route to get there.
Dissenting Opinion: When a Judge Disagrees
A dissenting opinion is written by one or more judges who completely disagree with the majority decision. These judges explain why they think the majority made the wrong choice. Even though it's important for showing different viewpoints, a dissenting opinion doesn't change the court's final decision. It's like voting against a class decision – your vote is noted, but the majority's choice still stands.
