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Law vocabulary · Judgments, Appeals & Remedies

Overturn

Meaning in law, with examples

/ˌəʊvəˈtɜːn/verbCommon term

In law, overturn means: To officially cancel or reverse a decision of a lower court, so that it no longer has any effect.

In Turkish: bozmak, kaldırmak, iptal etmek

How it is used

Used for appeal courts that change a judgment or a conviction: 'the conviction was overturned'. Similar words are 'reverse' (mainly US), 'set aside' and 'quash' (UK, especially for convictions and administrative decisions).

Example sentences

  1. The appeal court overturned the decision because the judge had misread the contract.

  2. Overturning a jury's findings of fact is very difficult.

Common collocations

  • overturn a decision
  • overturn a conviction
  • overturn a ruling
  • overturned on appeal
  • upholdTo confirm that an earlier decision was correct, especially when a higher court refuses to change a lower court's judgment; also to defend a principle.
  • set asideTo cancel a court order, judgment or arbitration award so that it no longer has any legal effect.
  • appealTo ask a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court; also used as a noun for this request.
  • court of appealA court that reviews the decisions of lower courts when a party says the judge made a mistake, and can confirm, change or cancel those decisions.
  • rulingAn official decision made by a judge or court on a particular question, such as whether evidence can be used or whether a claim can continue.

More terms: Judgments, Appeals & Remedies

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.