on the merits
Judged on substance
On the merits means based on the substance of a case or argument rather than on procedural or technical grounds.
A court that decides on the merits rules on the actual facts and law, not on whether paperwork was filed correctly or deadlines met.
The phrase extends beyond legal contexts: Judge the proposal on the merits, not on who submitted it.
- verdictOfficial court decision
- rulingFormal legal determination
- motion to dismissRequest court end case
- justiceFair treatment under law
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
truth-seeking · evidence · burden of proof · law · reasonableness · judgment · impartiality · analysis · objectivity · due process · fair hearing · case · fact · legal standard · evaluation · truth · equity · appeal
on the meritsarbitrarily
Without logical basis
summarily · capriciously · superficially · on a whim · cursorily
merit, merits, meritorious, meritoriously, demerit, demerits, merited, meriting