per curiam
adverb or adjective
per cu·ri·am
(ˌ)pər-ˈkyu̇r-ē-ˌäm 
-ˈku̇r-
: by the court as a whole rather than by a single justice and usually without extended discussion
a per curiam decision
Examples of per curiam in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The clearest explanation for Thursday’s unsigned per curiam opinion can probably be found in a concurring opinion written by Justice Amy Coney Barrett and joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
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Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2024
The unsigned, one-sentence per curiam opinion does not resolve the central question in the case: Does a federal law requiring doctors to perform abortions in certain medical emergencies preempt Idaho’s law, which allows a doctor to perform the procedure only to save the life of the mother?
—Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2024
In an unsigned, per curiam opinion, the court returned the case to a lower court for further review in light of the new test.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024
That bottom-line decision is per curiam—or by the full court—and unanimous, with both liberal and conservative Justices agreeing.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for per curiam 
Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2024
The unsigned, one-sentence per curiam opinion does not resolve the central question in the case: Does a federal law requiring doctors to perform abortions in certain medical emergencies preempt Idaho’s law, which allows a doctor to perform the procedure only to save the life of the mother?
—Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2024
In an unsigned, per curiam opinion, the court returned the case to a lower court for further review in light of the new test.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024
That bottom-line decision is per curiam—or by the full court—and unanimous, with both liberal and conservative Justices agreeing.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for per curiam
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'per curiam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Per curiam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/per%20curiam. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
per curiam
adverb or adjective
per cu·ri·am
pər-ˈkyu̇r-ē-ˌäm, -ˈku̇r-, -əm
: by the court as a whole rather than by a single justice and usually without extended discussion
a per curiam affirmance
Etymology
Latin, by the court
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