"per curiam" Per curiam is Latin for “by the court.” An opinion designated by the Supreme Court as a body, instead of by one member, is called a per curiam decision. In Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), for example, the opinion of the Court was not attributed to a particular justice. Instead, it was announced as a per curiam decision. This kind of opinion is used to summarily deal with an issue in a concise and unsigned opinion that signifies the general authority of the Court.
How to cite this entry:
"per curiam" The Oxford Guide to the United States Government. John J. Patrick, Richard M. Pious, and Donald A. Ritchie. Oxford University Press, 2001. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. 11 September 2011
