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LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

discretion

Read a random definition: community property with right of survivorship

A quick definition of discretion:

Discretion is when someone in a position of power, like a judge or a police officer, can make decisions based on what they think is right or wrong. They have to follow the rules, but they can use their own judgment to decide how to apply them. For example, a judge might decide how much money someone has to pay as a fine. But if they make a decision that doesn't make sense, someone can ask a higher court to review it and make sure it was fair.

A more thorough explanation:

Discretion is the power given to judges, public officials, or private parties to make decisions based on their own judgment and conscience within general legal principles. It is the ability to judge between right and wrong, which is enough to hold one responsible for their own actions in criminal and tort law.

For instance, a judge may have discretion over the amount of a fine, and a prosecutor may have discretion when prosecuting a criminal case. However, discretion is considered to be abused when the judicial action is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable.

If a plaintiff or defendant believes that the trial court judge has abused their discretion, they can appeal the case. The appellate judge's job is to review whether the trial court judge has acted properly and correctly applied the law. If reasonable people could differ as to the propriety of the action taken by the trial court, then it cannot be said that the trial court abused its discretion.

  • A judge may have discretion over the sentence given to a convicted criminal. For example, they may choose to give a shorter sentence if the defendant has shown remorse and is unlikely to reoffend.
  • A prosecutor may have discretion over whether to charge someone with a crime or not. For example, they may choose not to charge a first-time offender with a minor offense if they believe that a warning or community service would be more appropriate.

These examples illustrate how discretion allows judges and prosecutors to make decisions based on their own judgment and conscience within general legal principles. However, they must ensure that their decisions are not arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable.

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Dkk
19:42
SEO is big money
2016 pushed the conservative party into populism irreversibly
Dkk
19:43
Maybe, but if this is populism, then every election is populist.
19:43
@Dkk: yeah register 1 website and every swinging tom dick and harry calls/emails/texts to 'help with seo'. like bruh, if YOU found it, what i am doing is working
Dkk
19:43
Indeed!
19:48
wasp, i think people are hopeful for a gov who at least attempts to care about the common man
MIAMI A
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:55
How does one know if they are UR1 or UR2?
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:56
CONGRATS MACAQUE!
TY
got a random stanford email and almost had a heart attack
ALSO CONGRATS!
Congrats1!
21:15
Miami A, yall I'm so excited I could cry.
21:15
Feel like I can finally stop holding my breath!! Whew!!!
[] baddestbunny
22:16
every time I get accosted by a strange man who follows me around because my male coworkers were too busy talking to walk me back to my car I get closer to saying we need to bring back traditional gender roles
Dkk
22:32
Nice! @Macaque
Dkk
22:32
@Aromatic, Have to guess.
Dkk
22:33
That sucks @Bunny do you have to go to the hospital?
[] baddestbunny
22:40
I said accosted not assaulted
23:35
guys. my notre dame address just went long is this good or bad
1a2b3c4d26z
23:37
Oooooo me too
23:37
omg is this good or bad
Dkk
23:47
Idk if gender roles are gunna fix that then.
23:49
it looks like most people who applied in october last cycle didn't get a decision until january... does it even mean anything that our addresses went long??
hows ED 2 compared to ED 1?
Dkk
0:10
No idea
windyMagician
0:34
reporting live to say my ndls address also went long
does it mean anything ^
Dkk
2:21
NDLS and Fordham took a very long time last year. It's good info for people to know.
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