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LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

opinion

Read a random definition: statement of confession

A quick definition of opinion:

Opinion: In law, an opinion is a written statement by a judge explaining their decision for a case. It includes the judge's name, the facts of the case, the legal issues, the court's reasoning, and the decision. There are different types of opinions, such as majority, concurring, and dissenting opinions. An advisory opinion is a nonbinding statement interpreting the law. Opinion evidence is testimony based on a witness's own thoughts, beliefs, or inferences, while expert opinion is testimony by a witness with specialized knowledge. Opinion work product is material prepared by an attorney that reveals their opinions, mental impressions, conclusions, or legal theories of the case, and is usually not discoverable by an adversary.

A more thorough explanation:

Opinion in law refers to a written statement by a court explaining its decision for a case. This is known as a judicial opinion and usually includes the name of the judge who wrote it, a statement of facts, legal issues, the court's rationale and holding, and dicta. There are different types of judicial opinions:

  • Majority opinion: A judicial opinion that is joined by more than half the judges deciding a case.
  • Concurring opinion: A separate judicial opinion of an appellate judge who voted with the majority, explaining their vote and discussing parts of the decision in which they had a different rationale.
  • Dissenting opinion: A separate judicial opinion of an appellate judge who disagreed with the majority's decision, explaining their disagreement.
  • Advisory opinion: A court's nonbinding statement interpreting the law.
  • Per curiam opinion: A judicial opinion issued under the name of the deciding appellate court, without identifying the judge who wrote it.
  • Plurality opinion: A judicial opinion that received the most votes of any opinion but not enough to be the majority opinion.

Opinion can also refer to witness testimony based on their own thoughts, beliefs, or inferences (opinion evidence), or testimony by an expert witness who possesses specialized knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education (expert opinion). Additionally, opinion work product refers to material prepared by an attorney in preparation of litigation that reveals their opinions, mental impressions, conclusions, or legal theories of the case, which is almost never discoverable by an adversary.

For example, in a court case, the judge will write a judicial opinion explaining their decision. If one of the appellate judges disagrees with the majority's decision, they can write a dissenting opinion. A witness may provide opinion evidence based on their own thoughts or beliefs, while an expert witness may provide expert opinion based on their specialized knowledge. An attorney may prepare opinion work product in preparation for litigation, which is not discoverable by the opposing party.

opinio juris (international law) | option

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lilypadfrog
14:43
@ChowieBean: end of nov
i applied nov. 15 lily
or 12th
renard99
14:43
Also Jack ik you and I haven't talked in a bit but we have similar stats, backgrounds, WE. If you ever want solace in this messy process text me on Discord
14:44
im still in the queue to be reviewed for penn so
lilypadfrog
14:44
@SplitterusClitterus: I applied like two weeks later. It was one of my last apps
jackfrost11770
14:44
I mean I think you're more likely to get WL than R at UPenn lmao, I'm taking it as an R whatever
ReminiscentZestyFish
14:45
Tru
GreyCeaselessMammoth
14:45
notHim at it again
14:45
notHim is a born WINNER
14:47
ya i basically have penn r
Trismegistus
14:48
how would you know
14:48
uh wdym. i didnt get penn A or penn WL
jackfrost11770
14:48
Check substatus, it's not an update. I didn't even notice it at first
14:48
Substatus?
14:48
i cant get into my penn rn so im just assuming
14:48
same @Eggan
cumsock
14:49
carole baskin sold all her land
14:49
If it says under committee review I’m still alive right
cumsock
14:49
for 20 million fuckin dollars
Trismegistus
14:49
that's what mine saying @sadpadresfan
14:50
ya im on the plane so it wont let me log into lsac for some readon
14:50
for another 2 hours
lilypadfrog
14:50
im out here in miamiiiii
14:50
Whoa someone got Penn WL but Harvard A earlier what the heck
Trismegistus
14:50
happens all the time
14:51
I stg every time I see you that Jorge Ben song starts playing in my head again
Trismegistus
14:51
LOL
jackfrost11770
14:53
Egg not necessarily, I didn't get an email. It just says waitlist in application status which is mad annoying lol. At least tell us what you want like a LOCI or anything
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