Judgment Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Judgment, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Judgment?

It is a courts final decision in writing made to resolve certain issue or lawsuits which would declare who wins and who looses by the way or money damages or relief. It brings end to the jurisdiction of the court on that matter and also declares the rights and duties of each party of the lawsuit. The parties will have to abide by the courts decision or appeal to a court higher then the present courts jurisdiction.

History and Meaning of Judgment

The term judgment in the legal system is essentially the court's final decision in a specific case. This final decision could be made by a judge, jury, or an administrative court, and it resolves the legal issues between the parties. It brings an end to the court's jurisdiction with respect to that matter and declares the rights and duties of each party involved in the lawsuit.

After the court has made a judgment, it becomes the law of the case and is binding on both parties. If any party refuses to comply with the court's decision, the other party can use legal measures to enforce the judgment, such as filing a motion for judgment enforcement, issuing a garnishment, or foreclosure.

Examples of Judgment

  1. The judge rendered a judgment in favor of the plaintiff and awarded damages of $100,000.
  2. The appellate court upheld the lower court's judgment, which granted temporary custody to the mother.
  3. The federal court entered a default judgment against the defendant for failing to appear in court.
  4. The judge had to vacate the judgment due to a procedural error committed by the court clerk.

Legal Terms Similar to Judgment

Some legal terms similar to the judgment are:

  1. Order - an official court document that directs or forbids specific actions
  2. Decree - a final judgment that terminates a marriage or civil union
  3. Injunction – an order given by a court that directs the parties to act or refrain from acting in a particular manner
  4. Verdict - a decision of a jury in response to a legal question posed by the court, and
  5. Award - a monetary or other relief granted by a court or arbitrator to a party in a legal matter