Legal Dictionary of Pakistan
Quick lookup for English, Urdu, and Latin legal terms used in Pakistani jurisprudence.
advisory opinion.
1. A nonbinding statement by a court of its interpretation of the law on a matter submitted for that purpose. Federal courts are constitutionally prohibited from issuing advisory opinions by the case-orcontroversy requirement, but other courts, such as the International Court of Justice, render them routinely. See CASE-OR-CONTROVERSY REQUIREMENT. 2. A written statement, issued only by an administrator of an employee benefit plan, that interprets ERIISA and applies it to a specific factual situation. Only the parties named in the request for the opinion can rely on it, and its reliability depends on the accuracy and completeness of all material facts.
concurring opinion.
See CONCURRENCE (3).
dissenting opinion.
An opinion by one or more judges who disagree with the decision reached by the majority. - Often shortened to dissent. - Also termed minority opinion.
majority opinion.
An opinion joined in by more than half of the judges considering a given case. - Also termed main opinion.
memorandum opinion.
A unanimous opinion stating the decision of the court; an opinion that briefly reports the court's conclusion, usu. without elaboration because the decision follows a well-established legal principle or does not relate to any point of law. - Also termed memorandum decision.
minority opinion.
See dissenting opinion.
opinion.
1. A court's written statement explaining its decision in a given case, usu. including the statement of facts, points of law, rationale, and dicta. - Abbr. op. - Also termed judicial opinion. See DECISION. Cf. JUDGMENT; RULING.
plurality opinion.
An opinion lacking enough judges' votes to constitute a majority, but receiving more votes than any other opinion.
qualified opinion.
An audit-report statement containing exceptions or qualifications to certain items in the accompanying financial statement.
slip opinion.
1. A court opinion that is published individually after being rendered and then collectively in advance sheets before being released for publication in a reporter. 0 Unlike an unpublished opinion, a slip opinion can usu. be cited as authority. Cf ADVANCE SHEETS. 2. Archaic. A preliminary draft of a court opinion not yet ready for publication. -Also termed slip decision. Cf. unpublished opinion.