attendus

Attendus is a term used in French-language legal writing to denote the grounds or premises on which a court bases its decision. In contemporary jurisprudence, attested phrases begin with the formula "attendu que" and are employed to introduce factual findings or legal considerations that the court takes as a starting point for its reasoning. The plural form, attendus, refers to the multiple such premises or statements that appear within a judgment.

In practice, decisions in France, Belgium, Quebec, and other jurisdictions that use French routinely organize reasoning with a series of attendus clauses. Each clause typically states a specific fact, rule, or legal conclusion that the court relies on. The attendus are usually followed by further sections labeled considérant or motif, where the court explains how the premises lead to the conclusions reached. While "attendu que" tends to present factual or preliminary grounds, terms like "considérant que" emphasize normative or interpretive considerations.

Etymologically, attendus is tied to the French legal tradition and is a conventional formula rather than a common lexical item. It stems from the verb attendre (to wait) but has acquired a specialized, fixed meaning in judicial writing: to note or acknowledge a particular point as the basis for the ruling. The use of attendus is distinct from everyday French, appearing mainly in formal judgments and legal opinions.

Related terms include considérant que, which marks evaluative or interpretive remarks, and the broader practice of structuring judgments through enumerated premises to ensure clarity and justification of the decision.