Adjudicate

Definition

The fancy legal way of saying "to make a decision," except it takes seventeen months, four hundred pages of briefs, and enough billable hours to buy a yacht. Judges adjudicate; the rest of us just argue at Thanksgiving dinner.

Example Usage

"The judge will adjudicate this matter next spring," said my lawyer, as if I had not already grown a full beard waiting for the first hearing.

Related Terms

Intermediate

binding

A legal agreement or decision that you absolutely, positively must follow—no take-backs, no "just kidding." When something is binding, it has the force of law behind it, meaning you can't just ignore it without consequences. It's the difference between a pinky promise and a contract signed in blood (metaphorically speaking, though lawyers would probably prefer actual signatures).

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

Statute

A law written down by legislators who probably did not read the whole thing before voting on it. Statutes are the rules of society, assuming you can find them, understand them, and afford a lawyer to explain what they actually mean.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

friendly amendment

A proposed change to a motion that the original maker agrees to accept, avoiding the need for a vote. It's parliamentary procedure's rare moment of actual cooperation, where people just agree to improve something without drama.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

reversible error

A significant legal mistake during trial that likely affected the outcome and warrants reversal on appeal, essentially judicial malpractice serious enough to require a do-over. The appellate court's 'nope, try again.'

⚖️ Legal

Beginner

citation

In law, either the official summons commanding someone to appear in court or the reference to legal authorities supporting an argument. Can also be that expensive piece of paper a cop gives you for parking wrong. Basically, it's any formal notification that someone wants your attention, usually for reasons that will cost you money.

⚖️ Legal

Advanced

remittitur

A court's reduction of an excessive jury award, essentially judicial editing when the jury got a little too generous with someone else's money. The plaintiff can accept it or demand a new trial.

⚖️ Legal

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