1. The outcome of a court’s decision either on some point of law or on the case as a whole.
— Also termed legal ruling. Cf. JUDGMENT(1); OPINION(1). [Cases: Courts 88. C.J.S. Courts § 139; Trade-Marks, Trade-Names, and Unfair Competition § 187.]
“A distinction is sometimes made between rules and rulings. Whether or not a formal distinction is declared, in common usage ‘legal ruling’ (or simply ‘ruling’) is a term ordinarily used to signify the outcome of applying a legal test when that outcome is one of relatively narrow impact. The immediate effect is to decide an issue in a single case. This meaning contrasts, for example, with the usual meaning of ‘legal rule’ (or simply ‘rule’). The term ‘rule’ ordinarily refers to a legal proposition of general application. A ‘ruling’ may have force as precedent, but ordinarily it has that force because the conclusion it expresses (for example, ‘objection sustained’) explicitly depends upon and implicitly reiterates a ‘rule’ — a legal proposition of more general application ….” Robert E. Keeton, Judging 67–68 (1990).
2. Parliamentary law. The chair’s decision on a point of order. — rule, vb.
