Legal Definitions - mootness doctrine

The mootness doctrine is a principle followed by American courts. It states that courts will not make decisions on cases that no longer have any actual controversy.

For example, if a person files a lawsuit against a company for a product that has been recalled and is no longer being sold, the case would be considered moot because there is no longer an actual controversy.

Another example would be if a person files a lawsuit against a law that has since been repealed or amended. The case would be considered moot because the law no longer exists in its original form.

The mootness doctrine ensures that courts only make decisions on cases that have a real and current controversy, rather than wasting time and resources on cases that are no longer relevant.