What is meant by 'summary judgment'?

Summary judgment refers to a legal determination made by a court without proceeding to a full trial, based on the conclusion that there are no genuine disputes regarding material facts in the case. This means that the evidence presented by both parties is so clear that the court can decide the case as a matter of law, rather than waiting for a trial to resolve factual disputes.

In a situation where the relevant facts are not contested, the court can efficiently resolve the case by applying the law to those undisputed facts. This process not only aids in judicial efficiency but also helps to minimize unnecessary trials when the outcome is clear based on the established facts.

In this context, the other possibilities do not accurately capture the essence of summary judgment. A decision made after a lengthy trial would not fall under the definition of summary judgment, which specifically seeks to avoid the intricacies and duration of a trial when possible. Rulings based on witness credibility typically arise in trials where evidence may be disputed, and verdicts from juries refer to decisions made after trial proceedings, further distancing them from the concept of summary judgment.