res judicata

American  

[reez joo-di-key-tuh, reys] / ˈriz ˌdʒu dɪˈkeɪ tə, ˈreɪs /

noun

Law.

1. a thing adjudicated; a case that has been decided.

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res judicata British  

/ ˈreɪs ˌdʒuːdɪˈkɑːtə /

noun

1. law a matter already adjudicated upon that cannot be raised again

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Etymology

Origin of res judicata

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1685–95

Example Sentences

The prevailing party would likely cite the doctrine of res judicata, which says that a claim that reaches judgment in one court should not be relitigated in a second.

From Reuters • May 9, 2023

The important doctrine of res judicata does the same in civil trials, preventing the same dispute from getting refought over and over again by losing parties seeking out new courts.

From Salon • Oct. 13, 2018

He pays extra special attention to the technical questions around claim preclusion and whether a doctrine known as res judicata bars the plaintiffs from even bringing this action in the first instance.

From Slate • Jun. 27, 2016

He notes, wryly, that the doctrine of res judicata “predates the founding of the country. That’s why it’s in Latin.”

From Slate • Jun. 27, 2016

In so doing he placed this issue in its proper context of res judicata.

From The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation Annotations of Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June 30, 1952 by Corwin, Edward Samuel