Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: CITABLE
Definition: When a court makes a decision, it can be used as an example for future cases. This is called a precedent. If a court decision is citable, it means that it can be used as a precedent in future cases. Published opinions are usually citable, but unpublished ones are not.
Note: Citable can also be spelled as citeable.
Compare with: NONCITABLE
Definition: Citable is an adjective used to describe a legal document that has been authorized by a court to be used as a legal precedent. Published opinions are usually citable, but unpublished ones are not. Noncitable means that a document cannot be used as legal precedent.
These examples illustrate the difference between citable and noncitable legal documents. Citable documents are authoritative and can be used to support legal arguments in future cases. Noncitable documents, on the other hand, have no legal weight and cannot be relied upon as precedent.