Majority: when the majority (5 or more of the nine justices) write an opinion on an issue and that opinion is the one that prevails.
Dissenting: The other justices who disagreed with the majority opinion sometimes write a dissenting opinion to express their disagreements (dissent).
Concurrence: Sometimes, you have justices who agree with the ultimate decision made by the majority, but disagree as to the reasons why they came to that ultimate decision. For example, let's say that the majority concluded that gay marriage is a fundamental right given to homosexuals through equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. However, one of the justices agreed that the ultimate decision to allow gay marriage is justified, but disagreed that it was because of equal protection; rather, it was because of the right to privacy instead. This would be a concurring opinion because the concurring justice agrees with the ultimate decision that the majority came up with, but disagreed with why they came up with that conclusion.
The majority opinion, or opinion of the Court, is the official decision in a case. It sets binding precedents for all courts below the supreme court and may change how laws are interpreted or applied, or even if they are allowed to stand at all.
Their really is no such thing as a "minority opinion." The term you're looking for is "dissenting opinion(s)," which may be written by anyone who disagrees with the majority and wants to state their reasons officially. A case may have no dissenting opinions, one opinion signed by more than one justices, or many dissenting opinions, and the reasoning can vary from one dissent to the next.
Dissenting opinions carry no legal weight, but may be cited as precedent in future cases. Occasionally, the dissent eventually becomes more influential than the original "majority opinion."
A dissenting opinion is written when a justice disagrees with the majority opinion (which carries the force of law). If a justice is writing a dissenting opinion, that means he or she voted with the minority group, and wants to explain the reason why he or she disagrees with the official Opinion of the Court. Dissenting opinions may be cited, but are not enforceable.
To dissent; if the justices disagree with the majority opinion, they write a dissenting opinion.
....disagrees with the majority opinion, and explains his legal rationale for doing so.
If the justices who voted against the majority wish to issue a unified dissenting opinion, they decide amongst themselves who will author the opinion, then the others, if in agreement, will "join" the opinion. Individual justices may write their own (concurring or dissenting) opinions, regardless of whether they agree with the majority. Justices may also "join" or sign any other written opinion they agree with. This generally strengthens the opinion.
No. If a Supreme Court justice disagrees with the decision and wants to make his or her opinion a matter of public and judicial record, the justice must write a dissenting opinion.For more information, see Related Questions, below.
A concurring opinion is written by a justice who agrees with the outcome reached by the majority, but who came to that conclusion in a different way and wants to write about why. A dissenting opinion is written by a justice who disagreed with the majority and wants his disagreement known and explained
A US Supreme Court justice who disagrees with the majority opinion writes a dissenting opinion, explaining why he or she disagrees with the majority.
To differ in opinion, especially with the majority
dissenting.
Majority, Concurring, Dissenting, and Per Curiam
A dissenting opinion is written when a justice disagrees with the majority opinion (which carries the force of law). If a justice is writing a dissenting opinion, that means he or she voted with the minority group, and wants to explain the reason why he or she disagrees with the official Opinion of the Court. Dissenting opinions may be cited, but are not enforceable.
newdiv
A dissenting opinion is written when a justice disagrees with the majority opinion (which carries the force of law). If a justice is writing a dissenting opinion, that means he or she voted with the minority group, and wants to explain the reason why he or she disagrees with the official Opinion of the Court. Dissenting opinions may be cited, but are not enforceable. A good example is if you have 3 people. One of them wants a blue car, the other 2 want a red one. The majority is the 2 people who want a red car. Whoever doesn't want a red car, is the dissenting. (Dissenting is whatever isn't the majority) Search Dissenting Opinion for more details.
add points to the majority opinion
dissenting.
Dissenting means that for one reason or another a judge in an appellate or a justice in a Supreme Court case disagrees with the decision of the majority of the other judges. The justice or justices dissenting will usually write a dissenting opinon to go along with the main court opinion. The dissenting opinion will state reasons why the dissenting justices disagree with the majority decision.
Dissenting opinionDissenting Opinion