To show that other cases with similar circumstances came to a similar decision
to support an argument by showing that because other courts have made similar decisions, the decision in the current case must be logical
The "opinion of the Court" is synonymous with the Court's decision. The Opinion gives the verdict and explains the reasoning behind the decision reached.The privilege of writing the official opinion falls to the most senior justice in the majority group, or to the Chief Justice if he voted with the majority; this person may choose to write the opinion, or may assign the task to another member of the majority.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 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 verdict.All published opinions except for Per Curiam decisions may be used as precedent in future litigation.For more information about Supreme Court opinions, see Related Links, below.
Someone petitions the Supreme Court to review a case on appealThe lawyers submit briefsThe justices vote to decide which cases to hearThe Clerk schedules oral argumentsThe justices read all briefs and lower court documentsThe justices have their clerks research precedents and other informationThe justices listen to oral argumentsThe justices hold a case conference to discuss issues and take a voteOne justice is assigned to write the official opinion of the CourtThe opinion is circulated for commentsOther justices write concurring or dissenting opinions (optional)The decision is released to the parties and the general public
chief justice
The minority opinions of today might be the majority opinions of tomorrow so it's good to let your opinions be heard for the future.
To show that other cases with similar circumstances came to a similar decision
to support an argument by showing that because other courts have made similar decisions, the decision in the current case must be logical
dissenting.
After all th opinions have been written and finalized, the justices announced their final decisions. The decisions are from the majority vote of the justices
Supreme Court decisions are referred to as "opinions." When the Court issues a ruling, it typically releases a majority opinion, which explains the reasoning behind the decision, as well as any concurring opinions from justices who agree with the outcome but may have different reasoning. Dissenting opinions are also published, expressing the views of justices who disagree with the majority. Collectively, these opinions form the legal precedent that guides future cases.
A dissenter is a type of person that disagrees or dissents. These disagreements can be with beliefs, opinions, and the like.
Majority opinion - Also called the "Opinion of the Court," this is the official verdict in the case that represents the vote of the majority of justicesDissenting opinion - An opinion written by a justice who disagrees with the majorityConcurring opinion - An opinion that agrees with the decision but may disagree with the some of the reasoning behind the Court opinion, or may elaborate on a point made or introduce further relevant informationThe most important type is the majority opinion. The majority opinion is, as the name suggests, the opinion of the majority of judges hearing the case. In most cases, a majority opinion requires five Justices, unless one or more Justices have recused themselves from a given decision. The majority opinion is important because it defines the precedent that all future courts hearing a similar case should follow.Majority opinions are sometimes accompanied by concurring opinions. Concurring opinions are written by individual Justices in the majority. These opinions agree with the majority opinion, but may stress a different point of law. Sometimes, concurring opinions will agree with the result reached by the majority, but for a different reason altogether.Opinions written by justices not in the majority are known as dissenting opinions. Dissenting opinions are important because they provide insight into how the Court reached its decision.the statement written to explain why the decision was made (GradPoint)For more information, see Related Questions, below.
The written document explaining the logic of the winning side in a Supreme Court case is known as the "opinion of the Court." This opinion outlines the legal reasoning and principles that guided the justices' decision, articulating how they interpreted the law and applied it to the case at hand. It serves as a precedent for future cases and is essential for understanding the Court's rulings. Justices can also write concurring opinions to express additional views or dissents to disagree with the majority.
Decisions by the Supreme Court are handed down through a process that involves the justices deliberating after hearing oral arguments in a case. Once a decision is reached, the majority opinion is drafted by one of the justices in the majority, outlining the legal reasoning behind the ruling. This opinion may be joined by other justices, and dissenting opinions can also be written by those who disagree with the majority. The final opinions are then published and made available to the public, outlining the Court's interpretation of the law.
A Justice may write a dissenting opinion if he or she votes against the majority and wants to record his or her legal reasoning for consideration in future cases. Dissenting opinions, although written in opposition to the majority, or Court Opinion, may be cited as precedents in future litigation. An opinion that agrees with the decision in the case (although not necessarily the reasoning) is called a concurringopinion.For more information on opinions of the Court, see Related Questions, below.
When all the justices agree on a decision and the reasoning behind it, it is called a "unanimous decision." In this case, the court's opinion reflects a single, cohesive stance on the issue at hand, with no dissenting opinions. Unanimous decisions often carry significant weight in legal precedents, as they demonstrate a clear consensus among the justices.
Everyone has the right to study precedents, including you. All that means is reading the written opinions (decisions) of cases that are considered guidelines for use in deciding similar cases. And yes, the justices study precedents (or make their law clerks do it). Judicial review is an implied constitutional power that allows courts to evaluate a questioned law in a case they're hearing and determine if the law is constitutional. If the justices decide the law is unconstitutional, then it's nullified and becomes unenforceable.