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Simple English definitions for legal terms
per curiam opinion
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A quick definition of per curiam opinion:
A per curiam opinion is a written statement by a court explaining its decision in a case. It includes the facts, points of law, and reasoning behind the decision. It is usually written by the court as a whole, without identifying the individual judge who wrote it. It is different from an advisory opinion, which is a nonbinding statement by a court on a matter submitted for interpretation. A per curiam opinion can be controversial because it can dispose of the merits of a case without giving the parties an opportunity to argue their positions.A more thorough explanation:
A per curiam opinion is a written statement explaining a court's decision in a case, but without identifying the individual judge who wrote the opinion. It is usually handed down by an appellate court and is often used when the decision is unanimous or when the court wants to avoid controversy.
- When the Supreme Court issues a per curiam opinion, it means that all the justices agreed on the decision, and no one justice is taking credit for writing the opinion.
- An intermediate appellate court may issue a per curiam opinion when the decision is straightforward and does not require a lengthy explanation.
These examples illustrate how a per curiam opinion is used to convey a court's decision without attributing it to a specific judge. It is often used when the decision is not controversial or when the court wants to avoid drawing attention to individual judges.