Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
An adverb derived from Latin meaning after. It directs the reader to a later portion of a judicial opinion or other legal text.
Sources & Authorities· 29 primary sources
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Cases
Statutes
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Merger Clause Analysis
Peter Park sold land to Platinum Partners under a contract containing a merger clause. After closing the buyer attempted to enforce an earlier oral promise about boundary fencing. The court first addressed the parol evidence rule and then directed the reader post to its analysis of the deed's controlling effect.
Commerce Power Challenge
Pamela Phillips challenged a federal tax on imports. The opinion first addressed the uniformity requirement and then turned post that discussion to the scope of the commerce power.
Diversity Jurisdiction Timing
Preston Pratt sued a defendant whose citizenship changed after the complaint was filed. The court confirmed that diversity is measured at filing and remains intact despite any post filing shift in domicile, see post for further elaboration on timing rules.
Pearl Porter alleged that a state statute impaired her contract rights. The opinion first reviewed the Contracts Clause text and then analyzed post enactment effects on existing agreements, cross-referencing post for the impairment holding.
Judicial Recusal Issue
Patricia Patel discovered after judgment that the trial judge had served as a university trustee. The appellate court examined the recusal statute post judgment and ordered vacatur because the conflict undermined public confidence, see post for the vacatur analysis.
Habeas Corpus Suspension
Paige Porter challenged a statute enacted during a declared rebellion. The court considered the suspension power post enactment and held that the privilege could be suspended only when public safety required it, directing the reader post to the constitutional text.
Common questions
Frequently Asked
3
What does the term post signify when used in a judicial opinion?+
It directs the reader to a later section or page of the same opinion.
How does post differ from ante in legal citations?+
Post refers to material appearing later in the text while ante refers to material appearing earlier.
Is post used only in Supreme Court opinions?+
No. Any court or legal writer may use post to cross-reference a later portion of the same document.
410 U.S. 113 (1973)Constitutional Law
…opinion Opinion of the Court by Justice Blackmun This Texas federal appeal and its Georgia companion, Doe v. Bolton , post , p. 179, present constitutional challenges to state criminal abortion legislation. The Texas statutes under attack here are typical of those that have been in effect in many States for…