n. the cognitive process of reaching a decision or drawing conclusionsn. (law) the determination by a court of competent jurisdiction on matters submitted to itn. an opinion formed by judging somethingn. the mental ability to understand and discriminate between relationsn. the capacity to assess situations or circumstances shrewdly and to draw sound conclusionsn. the legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decisionn. the act of judging or assessing a person or situation or event