court order

An order is a pronouncement of a court which grants or refuses the relief or remedy sought by a litigant in the legal proceedings. An order may or may not contain reasons for the decision reached by the court. An order brings to an end the disputes that were the subject of the order in inter partes disputes; confer final judgment and res judicata.

The facts in dispute merge with the judgment in a metaphysical sense, and the litigants are no not entitled to dispute the findings of the court, other than by way of appeal to a higher court.

An order may or may not be a judgment; judgments contain reasons for the court order which has been made. A final judgment has special consequences (see res judicata).

Usage: The court order required the defendant to pay the claimant damages.

Related Words: judgment; res judicata; final judgment; cause of action estoppel; issue estoppel; locus standi; interim order; final order; recognition of foreign judgments; litigation.