What is a judgment?

• A. The final decision of a court and includes a dismissal if there is an acquittal or an adjudication of guilt and an assessment of punishment
• B. The formal pronouncement of the judgment
• C. A sentence under civil law
• D. The process of appealing a decision

Answer: (A)

Judgment is the court’s final ruling that resolves the case. In a criminal matter, it records the outcome after trial: if the defendant is acquitted, the charges are dismissed; if found guilty, the judgment confirms the conviction and specifies the punishment to be imposed. The judgment is the official document that formalizes this decision and directs what happens next, such as dismissal on acquittal or sentencing on conviction. It’s the complete determination that ends the case, not just the act of announcing the verdict or the separate step of appealing.