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Per curiam
Per curiam is a Latin term that means "by the court as a whole."[1]
A per curiam decision is a ruling issued collectively by a group or panel of judges of an appellate court. The decision is published as a decision of the court, with authorship of the decision not indicated.[2] Sometimes per curiam also signifies an opinion written by the chief or presiding judge but made on behalf of the entire court.[3]
Use in U.S. courts
Most decisions made by the Supreme Court and other U.S. courts are signed by individual judges. Even when the court makes a unanimous decision, it is not necessarily per curiam, and likewise per curiam decisions are not necessarily unanimous. Courts generally only issue per curiam decisions when the decisions are on non-controversial issues.[2][1]
In addition to the Supreme Court, the top appellate courts of most states (including Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and North Carolina) use the same terminology.[1]
Per curiam affirmed
The term "per curiam affirmed" (PCA) refers to a per curiam decision of the court finding the decision of a lower court to be correct. Due to heavy court caseloads, PCA decisions are often made without rendering a written opinion.[2]
See also
Footnotes
