1. The circumstance existing when a case has reached, but has not passed, the point when the facts have developed sufficiently to permit an intelligent and useful decision to be made.
2. The requirement that this circumstance must exist before a court will decide a controversy. See JUSTICIABILITY. Cf. MOOTNESS DOCTRINE; PREMATURITY(1). [Cases: Action 6; Federal Courts 12.
1. C.J.S. Actions §§ 38–45.] — ripe, adj. — ripen, vb.
