In the legal sense, a judgment refers to a decision rendered by a court or tribunal in the context of legal proceedings. It is an official act by which a judge or panel of judges decides a dispute, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or commercial, by applying the rules of law relevant to the specific case. The judgment is a resolution to the dispute between the parties, after examination of the facts, evidence, and arguments presented at the hearing.
The judgment may take different forms depending on the type of case and the competent court. In a civil case, it may order a party to pay damages or perform an obligation. In a criminal case, it may impose a penalty, such as a fine or imprisonment.
In principle, a judgment may be challenged by an appeal or, in some cases, by an appeal to the Supreme Court, depending on the applicable rules of procedure. An enforceable judgment may be enforced, particularly in the case of a conviction, and has the force of res judicata, which means that the parties may not reopen the same dispute on the same facts.