Legal Definitions - Ripe

Definition: A claim is "ripe" when there is a real and substantial controversy that requires a court's intervention. The U.S. Constitution requires federal courts to only decide actual cases and controversies. The question of ripeness often arises in cases where the harm asserted by the plaintiff has not yet occurred. A case is typically considered ripe if it presents a purely legal issue, or if further development of the facts will not render the issue more concrete.

• A person wants to challenge a law that has not yet gone into effect. The court may find the claim not ripe because the harm has not yet occurred.
• A person wants to challenge a zoning decision that has not yet been implemented. The court may find the claim not ripe because the decision has not yet caused harm.
• A person wants to challenge a law that has caused harm, but the facts of the case are not fully developed. The court may find the claim not ripe because further development of the facts may change the legal issue.

These examples illustrate how the question of ripeness arises in cases where the harm has not yet occurred or the facts are not fully developed. The court must determine whether the claim is ready for judicial review or if it is too hypothetical or speculative to be decided by the court.