Res Judicata Definition

rēz jo͝odĭ-kätə, rās
res judicatae
noun
The principle that a decision by a competent court in a case fully and fairly litigated is final and conclusive as to the claims and issues of the parties and cannot be relitigated.
American Heritage
A matter already decided by judicial authority.
Webster's New World
A thing decided. A doctrine whereby the court’s decision is binding upon the parties in any and all subsequent litigation concerning the same case. In effect, it bars the litigants from seeking to take the same case to another court in hopes of a different outcome, or of raising new issues that were not raised at the first trial.
Webster's New World Law
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Res Judicata

Noun

Singular:
res judicata
Plural:
res judicatae

Origin of Res Judicata

  • Latin rēs iūdicāta thing decided rēs thing iūdicāta feminine past participle of iūdicāre to judge

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin rÄ“s (“thing, matter, affair") iÅ«dicata, past participle of iÅ«dico (“judge")

    From Wiktionary

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