summary judgment

[suhm-uh-ree juhj-muhnt]

noun

Law.

1. a judgment that is entered without the necessity of jury trial, as one based on affidavits that convince the court that there is no arguable issue.

   The creditor filed a motion for summary judgment against the debtor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of summary judgment¹

First recorded in 1795–1800

Example Sentences

The party that loses summary judgment will appeal, and the final disposition will likely, eventually, come from the Supreme Court.

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Federal judges have granted three of the four firms summary judgment against the government; a judge’s ruling in the fourth case is pending.

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In a judgment on Wednesday, Mr Justice Ritchie granted summary judgment in her favour, meaning she won her case without a trial.

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Trump and four other lawsuits last year for the purposes of discovery and summary judgment on the immunity question.

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No. We did have an ongoing legal battle, but we had a summary judgment and the judge awarded us, in our favor, everything.

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