A ruling based on the facts and law reached by a judge or jury that determines the guilt or innocence of a criminal defendant or determines the final outcome of a civil case. Often, the decision includes the judge’s explanation of the legal principles involved. The decision may also include court orders, which tell the parties what to do. A decision usually produces a written document called an opinion. The term “opinion” means the judge’s written views about a particular order.
Depending on the case, a court decision may also produce other documents that are not opinions. For example, a decision might produce a syllabus or an appendix that contains all of the other documents related to the case.
When a court makes an appealable decision, the losing party can file a petition for review with the higher level of court. Once the official records of the case are transferred to the Court of Appeals, attorneys for the appellant and the appellee present their arguments in a formal setting called oral argument. Judges then review the record and the attorneys’ briefs before deciding how to resolve the case by majority vote. Generally, an appellate court will either reverse the trial court’s decision or remand the case for further action.
The Court’s decisions set precedent – that is, they influence how judges interpret laws or regulations and the rights of individuals. These judicial interpretations, or “rulings,” are important because they affect how we understand the Constitution and laws that are made by Congress and state legislatures. Court decisions can even influence common law, which is a set of principles that are not necessarily based on the Constitution or any specific legislation.