case stated: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical-Legal
Quick answer
What does “case stated” mean?
A formal legal document outlining the facts of a case, submitted by a lower court or tribunal to a higher court for an opinion on a point of law.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal legal document outlining the facts of a case, submitted by a lower court or tribunal to a higher court for an opinion on a point of law.
The procedure of referring a question of law from a lower court to a higher court, based on an agreed set of facts; by extension, can refer to any clearly defined problem or set of circumstances submitted for authoritative resolution.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both UK and US law, but the specific procedural rules and courts involved differ. In the UK, it is historically associated with appeals from magistrates' courts to the High Court (Queen's/King's Bench Division). In the US, it can be part of procedures like 'certification' from a federal appeals court to the state supreme court on state law questions, but 'case stated' is less common as a specific term than 'certified question'.
Connotations
In both jurisdictions, it connotes a technical, procedural mechanism for resolving pure legal questions, avoiding factual disputes.
Frequency
More commonly encountered in UK legal texts and education. In everyday American English, it is very rare.
Grammar
How to Use “case stated” in a Sentence
The magistrates stated a case for the opinion of the High Court.The appeal was conducted by way of case stated.They sought a ruling via the case stated procedure.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “case stated” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - not standard as a verb.
American English
- N/A - not standard as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - not standard as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - not standard as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A - not standard as an adjective.
American English
- N/A - not standard as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used outside of legal disputes involving the business.
Academic
Used in law schools and legal journals when discussing appellate procedure.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would not be understood by the general public.
Technical
Core term in legal procedure, specifically administrative and criminal law contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “case stated”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “case stated”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “case stated”
- Using it as a verb ('The judge case stated...').
- Using it in a non-legal context.
- Treating it as two separate words without understanding the fixed compound nature.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a type of appeal, but a specific one. A regular appeal can review facts and law. A case stated appeal is limited to a point of law, based on facts that have already been agreed upon or found by the lower court.
No, it is a highly technical legal term. Using it outside of a legal context would likely cause confusion.
Judicial review typically challenges the lawfulness of a decision-making process by a public body. A case stated is a narrower procedure, often from a lower court, focusing purely on the correct interpretation or application of the law to established facts.
As two syllables: 'stay-tid'. In American English, the 't' in 'stated' often sounds more like a soft 'd' ('stay-did').
A formal legal document outlining the facts of a case, submitted by a lower court or tribunal to a higher court for an opinion on a point of law.
Case stated is usually formal, technical-legal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To take the case stated route.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a court CASE where the facts are clearly STATED on paper, which is then sent up to the judges upstairs for a legal ruling.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW AS A JOURNEY (the case is 'sent up' the judicial hierarchy), CLARITY AS A DOCUMENT (the facts are fixed and 'stated').
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'case stated' primarily used for?