What is Legal opinion?
{{Judicial opinions}} In [[law]], a '''legal opinion''' is usually a written [[explanation]] by a [[judge]] or group of judges that accompanies an [[Court order|order or ruling]] in a [[Legal case|case]].<ref name=LawDict>{{cite web |url=http://thelawdictionary.org/legal-opinion/ |title=What is Legal Opinion |publisher=thelawdictionary.org/ |access-date=15 March 2016}}</ref> Legal opinions may also be written by legal [[expert]]s.<ref name=LawDict/> A legal opinion is used to lay out the [[rationale]] (reasons for) and [[Legal doctrine|legal principles]] for the ruling. Opinions are usually [[publishing|published]] at the direction of the [[court]]. They may be used to [[wikt:reinforce|reinforce]], [[wikt:explain|explain]], change, [[wikt:establish|establish]], or overturn legal [[precedent]]. If a court decides that an opinion should be published, the opinion is included in a volume from a series of books called [[law report]]s or [[case report]]s.<ref name=LII>{{cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/2-200.htm |title=§ 2-200. How to Cite Judicial Opinions |publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School |access-date=15 March 2016}}</ref> Published opinions of courts are also collectively referred to as [[case law]], which is one of the major [[sources of law]] in [[common law]] [[legal system]]s. == References == {{reflist}}{{Law}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Legal terms]]