Legal Definitions - just

In legal terms, just describes something that is fair, impartial, and in accordance with the law or established principles of fairness. It refers to a decision, action, or outcome that is morally sound, legally defensible, and ensures that all parties are treated appropriately and without bias.

• Example 1: A Fair Court Ruling
  After hearing all the evidence in a complex contract dispute, a judge rules that Company A must pay Company B for services rendered, but at a reduced rate due to minor delays in delivery. The judge's decision is considered just because it carefully weighed the obligations and performance of both parties, applied the relevant contract law, and arrived at an outcome that was equitable, rather than simply favoring one side entirely.

• Example 2: Just Compensation for Property
  When a city needs to acquire private land for a new public park through eminent domain, it must provide the landowner with just compensation. This means the payment offered is not merely the minimum required, but a fair market value for the property, potentially including additional costs incurred by the owner due to the relocation. The compensation is considered just because it aims to make the landowner whole and not suffer an unfair financial loss for the public good.

• Example 3: A Just Employment Policy
  A company implements a new parental leave policy that offers the same amount of paid time off to all new parents, regardless of gender or whether they are birth, adoptive, or foster parents. This policy is seen as just because it treats all employees equally in a significant life event, promoting fairness and equity in the workplace rather than perpetuating traditional biases.