judgements

Judgement (British spelling) or judgment (American spelling) refers to the capacity to make considered decisions or evaluations, and to the act of forming such an opinion. It can denote both a process and its outcome. In everyday usage it is the ability to assess information, weigh evidence, and reach a conclusion.

In law, a judgement is the court's official decision resolving a dispute. It states the facts, explains the legal reasoning, and determines the remedy or obligation. Judgements can be final, interim or interlocutory, and may be subject to appeal. They can set legal precedent and may be accompanied by orders such as damages, injunctions, or declarations. Common types include final judgments, summary judgments, default judgments, and declaratory judgments.

The structure of a judgement often includes the ratio decidendi, the binding core of the decision, and obiter dicta, incidental observations not binding. In civil law systems the format may differ, but the function remains to resolve the dispute according to law.

Beyond courts, judgement refers to the act of forming an opinion or making a decision, and is central to ethics and everyday decision making. Good judgement implies prudent, well-reasoned conclusions; poor judgement can result from cognitive biases, inadequate information, or faulty reasoning.

Etymology and spelling: The term comes from Latin iudicium via Old French and English, with "judgement" in British usage and "judgment" in American usage. In many legal contexts both spellings appear, though consistency within one jurisdiction is common.