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Law vocabulary · Latin Legal Terms

Res judicata

Meaning in law, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In law, res judicata means: The principle that once a court has made a final decision on a matter, the same parties cannot bring the same claim again; Latin for 'a matter already judged'.

In Turkish: kesin hüküm, kesin hüküm itirazı

How it is used

A defendant may 'raise' or 'plead' res judicata to stop a second case. English lawyers also speak of 'cause of action estoppel' and 'issue estoppel', and US writers often use 'claim preclusion' and 'issue preclusion'.

Example sentences

  1. The second claim was struck out as res judicata because the same dispute had been decided in 2021.

  2. Before we issue proceedings, check whether res judicata could be raised against us.

Common collocations

  • plead res judicata
  • raise res judicata
  • barred by res judicata
  • doctrine of res judicata
  • judgmentThe final decision of a court in a case, together with the reasons the judge gives for it; also the written document that contains this decision.
  • claimA formal demand for money, property or another remedy, especially one made in court; also a statement that something is true which has not yet been proved.
  • proceedingsThe formal steps of a legal case, from the moment it is started until it is finished; the legal process as a whole.
  • stare decisisThe principle that courts should follow earlier decisions on the same legal question, so that the law stays consistent and predictable; Latin for 'to stand by things decided'.

More terms: Latin Legal Terms

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