DUBITANTE
dubitante (d[y]oo-bi-tan-tee). [Latin] Doubting. • This term was usu. placed in a law report
next to a judge’s name, indicating that the judge doubted a legal point but was unwilling to state
that it was wrong. — Also termed dubitans.
“[E]xpressing the epitome of the common law spirit, there is the opinion entered dubitante —
the judge is unhappy about some aspect of the decision rendered, but cannot quite bring himself to
record an open dissent.” Lon L. Fuller, Anatomy of the Law 147 (1968). [Blacks Law 8th]