summary judgment

American  

[suhm-uh-ree juhj-muhnt] / ˈsʌm ə ri ˌdʒʌdʒ mənt /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of summary judgment

First recorded in 1795–1800

Example Sentences

That trial — another bellwether involving a suit by Breathitt County School District in Kentucky — is now set to begin in San Francisco in June, after the judge denied companies’ motion for summary judgment.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

The arguments heard were for summary judgment, which means both sides agree on the facts but disagree on how the law applies to those facts.

From Salon • Jul. 28, 2025

They merely argued, in a bid for summary judgment in Kadrey v.

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2025

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

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2025

Right can now assert itself in a way which was entirely beyond the reach of our predecessors of a hundred years ago; and wrong receives summary judgment at the hands of a whole people.

From A Hundred Years by Post A Jubilee Retrospect by Hyde, James Wilson