Dissenting Opinion
Definition
A dissenting opinion is a written statement by a judge or justice who disagrees with the majority decision in a case, explaining their opposition.
Analogy
Think of it like being on a team where everyone votes for the next game plan. You think there's a better strategy, so you write down your own plan and reasons why you believe it's superior. That's your dissenting opinion.
Related terms
Majority Opinion: This is the official decision of the court that represents the view of over half the justices.
Minority Opinion: An opinion not held by the majority of judges involved in deciding a particular case.
Precedent: A legal principle established in an earlier case that is taken as an example or rule to be followed in future similar cases.
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