The court decision is the final ruling that a judge or jury makes on a case. The court decides which party will win the case based on the facts and law presented. Court decisions, also known as judgments, are usually lengthy and include summaries of the facts, discussion of relevant laws, arguments in the case, the judge’s conclusion on the legal issues and reasons why the decision was made. A judgment or decision is usually accompanied by a court order that tells the parties what they should do next.
The Court publishes its decisions in the United States Reports and slip opinions (preliminary prints of the cases). HeinOnline provides access to all of these publications. A Reference Librarian can help you find and read these publications.
Sometimes, Justices who disagree with the outcome of a case will write a separate opinion on that matter. These dissenting opinions explain why the Court’s conclusion is flawed and should be reversed. Often, these dissents are persuasive and may have changed the course of history. Justice John Marshall Harlan, for example, authored over 120 dissenting opinions in his long career on the Supreme Court.
When all of the Justices agree on the Court’s reasoning for a case, they will write one main opinion. This is known as a plurality opinion. In modern times, it is very rare for the Court to have a unanimous ruling in a case.
The Court applies the principle of precedent to decide cases with similar facts and legal questions. The Court follows these precedents to ensure that people in similar circumstances are treated fairly. This is done by looking at the law as it has been applied in previous cases, and by interpreting the meaning of statutes and regulations.
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