Ruling — in plain language

Plain language

an official decision made by a judge or a government agency to resolve a specific question or dispute

• official decision
• court order
• formal determination
• judgment

What to watch for

• Non-lawyers often confuse a 'ruling' with a 'final judgment.' A ruling can be a small decision on a minor issue during a trial, not just the final outcome of the case.
• In contracts, 'ruling' is often used alongside 'regulation' or 'order.' Translators should avoid using the word 'ruling' in the translation if it refers to a government agency's general policy, as 'ruling' usually implies a specific decision on a specific matter.
• Do not assume a ruling is always written. While most are, some rulings are delivered orally by a judge in the courtroom.

Distinguishing from Similar Terms. A "ruling" is a broad term. It is often used interchangeably with "order" or "judgment," but there is a nuance: a "judgment" is usually the final decision that ends a case, while a "ruling" can be any decision made along the way. When translating, consider whether the document refers to a small step in a process or the final conclusion.

Context-Dependent Meaning. In contracts, you will often see "ruling" paired with "regulation." In this context, it refers to a specific directive or interpretation issued by a government body. If you are translating for a general audience, "official decision" is almost always the safest and clearest choice.

Common Misunderstandings by Non-Lawyers.

• "A ruling is always the end of the case." (No—judges make many rulings during a trial.)
• "A ruling is just an opinion." (No—a ruling is a formal, binding decision that the parties must follow.)

Legal definition

An official decision made by a judge or a government agency. A ruling settles a specific question or disagreement. In a courtroom, a judge might make many rulings throughout a trial—such as deciding whether a piece of evidence can be shown to a jury—before eventually making a final ruling that decides the outcome of the entire case. Outside of court, government agencies issue rulings to explain how their rules apply to specific people or businesses.

Meanings by context

tax law: A written answer from the tax authorities explaining how tax rules apply to your specific situation.

judicial ruling: A decision made by a judge in court.

administrative ruling: An official decision or interpretation issued by a government agency.

Examples

Where you'll see it

• court filings
• commercial contracts
• government regulations
• tax correspondence

Related terms

• judgment
• order
• adjudication
• decree
• finding

Word details

Pronunciation

ROO-ling

Part of speech

noun

Origin

Old English — from 'rule' — to exercise authority or control

Domains

court procedure, administrative law, tax law

Frequency

very common

Formality

moderate