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Obiter Dictum
OBITER DICTUM[Latin, By the way.] Words of an opinion entirely unnecessary for the decision of the case. A remark made or opinion expressed by a judge in a decision upon a cause, "by the way", that is, incidentally or collaterally, and not directly upon the question before the court or upon a point not necessarily involved in the determination of the cause, or introduced by way of illustration, or analogy or argument. Such are not binding as precedent. cross-references |
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"Obiter Dictum." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Obiter Dictum." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437703135.html "Obiter Dictum." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437703135.html |
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Obiter Dictum
Obiter Dictum (Lat., “said in passing”; often simply dictum [pl. dicta], occasionally obiter) is an assertion in an opinion that is not necessary to the result but is merely the gratuitous opinion of the judge. The distinction between holdings and dicta is often difficult to discern, especially in modern cases.
William M. Wiecek |
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KERMIT L. HALL. "Obiter Dictum." The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. KERMIT L. HALL. "Obiter Dictum." The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O184-ObiterDictum.html KERMIT L. HALL. "Obiter Dictum." The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O184-ObiterDictum.html |
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