kohtulaisennäköisyyetys

kohtulaisennäköisyyetys is a Finnish term that translates roughly to "judicious likelihood" or "reasonable probability." It is a concept primarily encountered in legal contexts, particularly in Finnish civil and criminal proceedings. The term signifies a level of certainty that is sufficient for a court to make a decision or reach a conclusion, even if absolute proof is not attainable.

This standard is distinct from "beyond a reasonable doubt," which is the higher burden of proof in criminal cases. kohtulaisennäköisyyetys is often applied in civil disputes where parties are seeking to establish facts that will determine liability or damages. It requires a court to weigh the evidence presented by all parties and determine which version of events is more probable or likely to be true.

The assessment of kohtulaisennäköisyyetys involves evaluating the credibility of witnesses, the reliability of documentary evidence, and any other relevant factors. The judge or panel of judges must form a conviction that, based on the available evidence, a particular outcome is more likely than not. This does not mean that the court must be entirely free from doubt, but rather that the evidence presented strongly favors one conclusion over another. The application of this standard ensures that legal decisions are grounded in a rational assessment of probability rather than mere speculation or conjecture.