RULING
ruling,n.1. The outcome of a court’s decision either on some point of law or on the case as a
whole. — Also termed legal ruling. Cf. JUDGMENT(1); OPINION(1). [Cases: Courts 88. C.J.S.
Courts § 139; Trade-Marks, Trade-Names, and Unfair Competition § 187.]
“A distinction is sometimes made between rules and rulings. Whether or not a formal
distinction is declared, in common usage ‘legal ruling’ (or simply ‘ruling’) is a term ordinarily
used to signify the outcome of applying a legal test when that outcome is one of relatively narrow
impact. The immediate effect is to decide an issue in a single case. This meaning contrasts, for
example, with the usual meaning of ‘legal rule’ (or simply ‘rule’). The term ‘rule’ ordinarily refers
to a legal proposition of general application. A ‘ruling’ may have force as precedent, but ordinarily
it has that force because the conclusion it expresses (for example, ‘objection sustained’) explicitly
depends upon and implicitly reiterates a ‘rule’ — a legal proposition of more general
application ….” Robert E. Keeton, Judging 67–68 (1990).
2.Parliamentary law. The chair’s decision on a point of order. — rule,vb. [Blacks Law 8th]