Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: habitual criminal
Ripe: A claim is "ripe" when it is ready to be decided by a judge. This means that there is a real problem that needs to be solved and the court can help. The court can only decide cases that are real and not just made up. Sometimes, the court needs to wait until the problem is more clear before making a decision. A case is usually ready to be decided if it is a legal issue or if more facts won't change the problem.
Definition: A claim is "ripe" when there is a real and substantial controversy that requires a court's intervention. The U.S. Constitution requires federal courts to only decide actual cases and controversies. The question of ripeness often arises in cases where the harm asserted by the plaintiff has not yet occurred. A case is typically considered ripe if it presents a purely legal issue, or if further development of the facts will not render the issue more concrete.
These examples illustrate how the question of ripeness arises in cases where the harm has not yet occurred or the facts are not fully developed. The court must determine whether the claim is ready for judicial review or if it is too hypothetical or speculative to be decided by the court.