Legal Definitions - decision

In the legal context, a decision is a ruling made by a court that determines the rights and obligations of the parties involved in a case. It is based on the facts and laws presented in the case. A decision can refer to the act of delivering a court's order or the written opinion of the court.

• Interlocutory decision: An order made by a court to settle an intermediate matter while the case is still ongoing. For example, a court may issue an interlocutory decision to determine whether evidence should be admissible in a trial.
• Appealable decision: An order that can be appealed before a higher court. For example, a court's decision to grant or deny a motion to dismiss a case may be an appealable decision.
• Final decision: A court's decision that settles all of the legal issues in a case. For example, a court's decision to award damages to a plaintiff in a personal injury case may be a final decision.
• Decision on the merits: A judgment made based on the facts and relevant substantive law of the case. For example, a court's decision to grant a motion for summary judgment may be a decision on the merits.

These examples illustrate how a decision can refer to different types of rulings made by a court. They show how a decision can be an order that settles an intermediate matter, a ruling that can be appealed, a final ruling that settles all legal issues, or a judgment made based on the facts and relevant law of the case.