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dissent

n. 1) the opinion of a judge of a court of appeals, including the U.S. Supreme Court, which disagrees with the majority opinion. Sometimes a dissent may eventually prevail as the law or society evolves. Prime examples include the many dissenting opinions of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1902-1932), which were widely quoted and often formed the basis for later majority decisions. 2) stated disagreement with prevailing thought.




The People's Law Dictionary by Gerald and Kathleen Hill Publisher Fine Communications