advisory opinion
Court's unofficial view
An advisory opinion is a legal ruling that interprets law or answers a hypothetical question without resolving an actual dispute.
Courts issue them to guide future conduct or clarify constitutional questions, though in some jurisdictions—including U.S. federal courts—they're prohibited because no concrete case exists.
The state supreme court issued an advisory opinion on the proposed legislation.
- legal briefWritten court argument
- dictumAuthoritative formal statement
- court rulingJudicial decision on case
- advisalOffering of guidance
- recommendationAdvised course of action
consultation · legal interpretation · assessment · legal precedent · constitutional law · Supreme Court · non-binding · guidance · administrative law · due process · analysis · evaluation · neutral third party · expert witness · perspective · feedback · insight · case law
- Legal rulingsrulings, ruling, judgments, verdict, verdicts
- legal serviceslawyer, attorney, law firm, criminal lawyer, legal counsel
- advisoriesguidance, guideline, recommendation, suggestion, counsel
- legal doctrinescollateral estoppel, strict scrutiny, equal protection, sovereign immunity, absolute immunity
- diplomacyembassy, ambassador, ambassadors, treaty, treaties
- ethicsmorality, deontology, dignity, sanctity of life, utilitarianism
advisory opinionbinding decision
Judgment parties must obey
final judgment · court order · binding precedent · final decree · writ
advisory opinionfinal judgment
Conclusive court resolution
final order · final decision · summary judgment · adjudication · verdict
advisory, opinion, advise, advised, adviser, advisor, advisors, advisers, advising