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LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

opinion

Read a random definition: civil fraud

A quick definition of opinion:

Opinion: In law, an opinion is a written statement by a judge explaining their decision for a case. It includes the judge's name, the facts of the case, the legal issues, the court's reasoning, and the decision. There are different types of opinions, such as majority, concurring, and dissenting opinions. An advisory opinion is a nonbinding statement interpreting the law. Opinion evidence is testimony based on a witness's own thoughts, beliefs, or inferences, while expert opinion is testimony by a witness with specialized knowledge. Opinion work product is material prepared by an attorney that reveals their opinions, mental impressions, conclusions, or legal theories of the case, and is usually not discoverable by an adversary.

A more thorough explanation:

Opinion in law refers to a written statement by a court explaining its decision for a case. This is known as a judicial opinion and usually includes the name of the judge who wrote it, a statement of facts, legal issues, the court's rationale and holding, and dicta. There are different types of judicial opinions:

  • Majority opinion: A judicial opinion that is joined by more than half the judges deciding a case.
  • Concurring opinion: A separate judicial opinion of an appellate judge who voted with the majority, explaining their vote and discussing parts of the decision in which they had a different rationale.
  • Dissenting opinion: A separate judicial opinion of an appellate judge who disagreed with the majority's decision, explaining their disagreement.
  • Advisory opinion: A court's nonbinding statement interpreting the law.
  • Per curiam opinion: A judicial opinion issued under the name of the deciding appellate court, without identifying the judge who wrote it.
  • Plurality opinion: A judicial opinion that received the most votes of any opinion but not enough to be the majority opinion.

Opinion can also refer to witness testimony based on their own thoughts, beliefs, or inferences (opinion evidence), or testimony by an expert witness who possesses specialized knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education (expert opinion). Additionally, opinion work product refers to material prepared by an attorney in preparation of litigation that reveals their opinions, mental impressions, conclusions, or legal theories of the case, which is almost never discoverable by an adversary.

For example, in a court case, the judge will write a judicial opinion explaining their decision. If one of the appellate judges disagrees with the majority's decision, they can write a dissenting opinion. A witness may provide opinion evidence based on their own thoughts or beliefs, while an expert witness may provide expert opinion based on their specialized knowledge. An attorney may prepare opinion work product in preparation for litigation, which is not discoverable by the opposing party.

opinio juris (international law) | option

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ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
19:25
Hi llama!!
llama
21:15
@ParallelAgreeableOrangutan: How are you!
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
22:02
tbh kinda losing my mind, I'm visiting my parents in my childhood home and whenever I do this I remember why I never do this aahhaha
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
22:02
My dog likes it here tho
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
22:02
How are youuuuu?
llama
22:26
@ParallelAgreeableOrangutan: Deep/tough. Feels. Im well working on a project so im happy :)
NemoPropheta
22:28
should i hit the dmt pen in the sauna and meet god
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
22:31
Ooh what kind of project? Work, passion, neither, both?
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
22:31
@NemoPropheta: do it do it
NemoPropheta
22:37
alright day before my lsat ill hit a blinker in the sauna and become one with the test
llama
22:47
@ParallelAgreeableOrangutan: law school data so just passion.
llama
22:47
@NemoPropheta: noo they drug test before the LSAT! U will get flagged!
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
23:19
I'm intrigued llama
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
23:21
Holdddddup all that number crunching on your lsd profile is your work? Damn
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
23:21
I don't visit y'all's profiles enough, clearly
NarrowFaithfulCougar
0:22
@NemoPropheta: Ahh yeah, the Sauna. That's some good Nordic shit. Beats the hot tub hands down. Plus everyone is naked.
llama
1:23
@ParallelAgreeableOrangutan: got that weaponized autism in gear, we out here.
RasheedWallaceFan
12:52
@llama: your cycle confuses me, your stats are good and you applied early but all of those Rs? Is there anything weird about your app?
RasheedWallaceFan
12:53
do you have C&F issues or something?
RasheedWallaceFan
12:55
also ur first choice is kansas but you didnt apply there?
llama
12:55
@RasheedWallaceFan: Hi. Yes, I waited for April LSAT, put almost all apps (which were sent really early) so that basically most of my apps were reviewed In May. Shot myself in the foot for 155 -> 161 lmao. Would not recommend 10/10
llama
12:57
@RasheedWallaceFan: unironically, KSLS was my top choice, however by April LSAT their app had closed. It was like waiting to date ur dream partner, but waiting until you graduate uni, then by the time u graduate uni, your soul mate is already married with 2.4 kids and 1.6 dogs. Heartbreak.exe fr fr
NemoPropheta
12:58
are you R&Ring?
llama
13:00
No, I think what I will do is flip a coin: heds NKU, tails NEL|B what u guys think bout dat. Then once 1L - if good at LS, try to transfer, if bad at LS or one of my grandiose ideas/inventions are viable, drop out and pursue.
RasheedWallaceFan
13:10
oh so you submitted the apps with a lower lsat and then retook
RasheedWallaceFan
13:10
got it
Bettercaulsaul
13:33
Most schools will hold your application for the next test score to be released into your account as well. I was notified by an admissions director that if a decision is processed they will not retroactively go back for the new score even if higher
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
13:34
I vote NEL-Boston so we can be friends :D
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
13:34
But it says you withdrew?? :(
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
13:41
@Bettercaulsaul: in my experience, there is often an option on the application for you to choose whether you'd like them to review your application as-is ASAP or hold it until your new score is released. but it probably varies by school—I just remember seeing that option on at least a few app forms
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