Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: Enter a judgment
Definition: When a judge makes a decision in a court case, they need to write it down officially. This is called entering a judgment. It's like making a final record of what the judge decided and why. Depending on where you live, this might happen right after the decision is made or it might take a little longer. Once the judgment is entered, the court clerk sends a copy to everyone involved in the case.
Enter a judgment
When a court makes a decision, it needs to be recorded as a final judgment. This process is called entering a judgment. The court's opinion, if there is one, is also recorded. The timing of when the judgment is entered depends on the jurisdiction. It can happen after the decision is added to the docket or sent to a specific official. In some cases, a clerk must enter the judgment before it can be appealed. Once the judgment is entered, the court clerk sends a copy of the judgment and opinion to the parties involved.
Example 1: After a long trial, the judge finally made a decision in the case. The clerk entered the judgment into the court's system and sent copies to the parties involved.
Example 2: In a small claims court, the judge made a decision on the spot. The clerk entered the judgment into the system right away and gave copies to the parties involved.
Both examples illustrate the process of entering a judgment. In both cases, the court made a decision, and the clerk recorded it as a final judgment. The copies were then sent to the parties involved.