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 companies sought a jury trial, but Judge Vince Chhabria yesterday granted Cloudflare's motion for summary judgment in a ruling in US District Court for the Northern District of California.

From Ars Technica

Although it's a partial summary judgment, the ruling by a federal judge rejects Locast's primary defense against claims of copyright infringement.

From Ars Technica

The motion filed by Eller’s attorneys calls on the court to rule against the school system’s motion for summary judgment.

From Washington Blade

Late Wednesday, the Justice Department asked for a two-week extension, until March 3, to respond to Open Society’s request for a summary judgment.

From Washington Post

Retribution was fast setting in, and summary judgment had overtaken them in a number of places.

From Project Gutenberg

An obligee of a common money bond can, since the date of the Judicature Act, obtain summary judgment under O. xiv.

From Project Gutenberg

He will execute summary judgment upon His enemies, and take to Himself His great power and reign.

From Project Gutenberg

Here, after a summary judgment, he was shot at night in the moat behind the guardhouse.

From Project Gutenberg

By the ninth of July the affair was sufficiently advanced for a "summary judgment."

From Project Gutenberg