Also known as: justices · justicement · justicer · justicers · justiceship · justicier · judicial fairness · administration of law
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A principle requiring courts and lawyers to decide matters fairly and impartially. It supplies the standard for granting procedural relief when fairness demands it and for evaluating conduct that affects the legal system's integrity.
Jeffrey Jha filed a complaint against Jha Pharmaceuticals alleging contract breach but omitted a key damages theory. After the answer arrived, he moved to add the omitted claim. The court granted leave because the amendment would allow full resolution of the dispute on the merits.
Jamal Jefferson was convicted after a bench trial on fraud charges. Newly discovered documents showed the key witness had lied about dates. The court vacated the judgment and ordered a new trial to ensure the verdict rested on accurate evidence.
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Judge June Jiang was invited to speak at a nonprofit legal-education seminar on access to courts. She accepted because the event concerned the legal system and did not involve fundraising or discriminatory practices.
Attorney Justin Jarvis filed repeated frivolous motions solely to delay a contract trial. The disciplinary board found the pattern of filings undermined the orderly resolution of disputes and imposed sanctions.
James Johnson, a foreign manufacturer, faced an indemnity suit in a state where its product had reached only through an independent distributor. The court dismissed for lack of jurisdiction because the burden on the defendant outweighed the forum's minimal interest.
Jada Jones urged a coworker to falsify safety records to obstruct an upcoming regulatory inspection. The prosecutor charged solicitation as a misdemeanor because the request targeted conduct that would obstruct justice.
A court grants leave when the amendment would allow full resolution of the dispute on the merits without undue prejudice to the opposing party. The standard favors amendment unless the movant has unduly delayed or the amendment would be futile.
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A court may vacate a judgment when newly discovered evidence shows the verdict rests on inaccurate facts or when other circumstances demonstrate that continuing the judgment would be unfair. The rule applies after both jury and bench trials.
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Lawyers violate the principle when they engage in conduct that undermines the fair and orderly resolution of disputes, such as filing frivolous motions solely for delay. Such actions expose the lawyer to professional discipline.
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Yes. Even when minimum contacts exist, a court may decline jurisdiction if the burden on the defendant and the forum's slight interest make the exercise unreasonable under fair play and substantial justice.
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