RIPENESS

ripeness,n.1. The circumstance existing when a case has reached, but has not passed, the

point when the facts have developed sufficiently to permit an intelligent and useful decision to be

made. 2. The requirement that this circumstance must exist before a court will decide a

controversy. See JUSTICIABILITY. Cf. MOOTNESS DOCTRINE; PREMATURITY(1). [Cases:

Action 6; Federal Courts 12.1. C.J.S. Actions §§ 38–45.] — ripe,adj. — ripen,vb. [Blacks Law 8^th]