Editing Judgment (law) (section)

=== Civil law ===

==== France ==== 

A court's duties regarding judgments are outlined in the ''Code de procédure civile''. A judgment "is given on behalf of the French people"<ref name="auto11">''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 454, Legifrance Translations (Last accessed March 28, 2015), http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref> and must contain certain information, including the date, the names of the judges, the level of court, and the names of the parties involved.<ref name="auto11"/> A judgment must also describe the parties' claims and the grounds on which their claims are based, identifying both the final judgment and the reasons for the judgment.<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 455, Legifrance Translations (Last accessed March 28, 2015), http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref> In light of compliance with the rules of the ''Code'' and the absence of an appeal, a judgment is presumed to have been executed correctly.<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 461, Legifrance Translations (Last accessed March 28, 2015), http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref>

Traditional French judgments often consisted of a single sentence wherein the court provided its judgment.<ref name="auto12">Catherine Elliott, Eric Jeanpierre and Catherine Vernon, ''French Legal System'' 158 (2d. ed., Pearson, 2006).</ref> However, a drive towards modernization of French judgments has encouraged judges to write much clearer judgments to encourage simplification and accessibility.<ref name="auto12"/> Modern French judgments generally include "[a] recounting [of] the facts, the procedure and the claims of the parties, as a narrative ... Such judgments may also be divided to deal with each element of the claim separately."<ref>Catherine Elliott, Eric Jeanpierre and Catherine Vernon, ''French Legal System'' 162 (2d. ed., Pearson, 2006).</ref> Generally, French judgments are much shorter than their common law counterparts.<ref name="auto12"/>
 
A court may either provide their judgment at the end of the hearing or defer the judgment to a specified date.<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 450, ''translated at'' http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref> If an oral judgment is rendered, it must be read by at least one of the judges who heard the case.<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 452, ''translated at'' http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref> Parties to the proceedings are entitled to receive "a certified copy of the judgement imprinted with an order of enforcement."<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 465, ''translated at'' http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref> Once a judgment has been executed, it becomes [[res judicata]].<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 500, ''translated at'' http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref> A judgment will be enforced once it becomes final subject to some exceptions.<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 501, ''translated at'' http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref> A judgment can only be enforced once a certified copy imprinted with an order of enforcement is provided and the affected parties have been notified.<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 503, ''translated at'' http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref>

* ''Default judgment:'' If one of the parties does not appear before the court, or one of the parties does not present their pleadings within the enumerated time limit, the appearing party is entitled to receive a default judgment on the merits of the case.<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 468-69; 471, ''translated at'' http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref>
* ''[[Ex parte]] judgment'': an ex parte judgment may be granted "where the petitioner has good reason for not summoning the opposing party."<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 493, ''translated at'' http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref>
* ''Interlocutory Judgment:'' An interlocutory judgment, insofar as it gives rise to an investigation or an interim measure, stays the proceedings and does not equate to a final judgment.<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 483, ''translated at'' http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref>
* ''Summary judgment'': a summary judgment may be granted at the request of one party in order to provide an order quickly as an alternative to a full trial.<ref>''Code de procédure civile'' [N.C.P.C.] (Fr.), art. 484, ''translated at'' http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Traductions/en-English/Legifrance-translations (Select "Code of civil procedure-pdf" for English translation).</ref>

==== Germany ==== 

A court's duties regarding judgments are outlined in the [[Zivilprozessordnung (Germany)|Zivilprozessordnung]].<ref>''Zivilprozeẞordnung'' [ZPO] [Code of Civil Procedure] (Ger.), ''translated at'' https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_zpo/englisch_zpo.html.</ref> A trial judgment must contain certain information, including the parties and their representatives, the court and judges involved in the decision, the date the proceedings finished, the merits of the case and the reasons for the judgment.<ref name="auto13">''Zivilprozeẞordnung'' [ZPO] [Code of Civil Procedure], § 313 (Ger.), ''translated at'' https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_zpo/englisch_zpo.html.</ref> Specifically, the legislation requires that "the claims asserted and the means of challenge or defence [be] brought before the court, highlighting the petitions filed. The details of the circumstances and facts as well as the status of the dispute thus far are to be included by reference being made to the written pleadings, the records of the hearings, and other documents ... [and] a brief summary of the considerations of the facts and circumstances of the case and the legal aspects on which the decision is based."<ref name="auto13"/>

An appellate court judgment must include the findings of fact in the contested judgment, including any changes or amendments, and the reasons for the court's determination of the appeal.<ref>''Zivilprozeẞordnung'' [ZPO] [Code of Civil Procedure], § 540 (Ger.), ''translated at'' https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_zpo/englisch_zpo.html.</ref>

* ''Default judgment'': a default judgment is rendered based on the defendant's acknowledgment of their actions. A default judgment does not need to address the facts or merits of the case and does not require the provision of reasons.<ref>''Zivilprozeẞordnung'' [ZPO] [Code of Civil Procedure], § 313(b) (Ger.), ''translated at'' https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_zpo/englisch_zpo.html.</ref>
* ''Interlocutory judgment'': an interlocutory judgment is rendered when the court has enough information to make a decision.<ref>''Zivilprozeẞordnung'' [ZPO] [Code of Civil Procedure], § 303 (Ger.), ''translated at'' https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_zpo/englisch_zpo.html.</ref>  An interlocutory judgment is considered to be a final judgment and not subject to appeal unless the court deems further consideration necessary.<ref>''Zivilprozeẞordnung'' [ZPO] [Code of Civil Procedure], § 280(2) and 304 (Ger.), ''translated at'' https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_zpo/englisch_zpo.html.</ref>
Judgments in most German courts are rendered "in the name of the people".<ref>$311 Zivilprozessordnung [ZPO] (Ger.) https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/zpo/__311.html</ref>

==== Italy ==== 

The duty to provide reasons for a judgment is entrenched in [[Italy]]'s [[Constitution of Italy|Constitution]].<ref>Cost., art. 111, para. 6 (Italy), http://www.cortecostituzionale.it/documenti/pubblicazioni/testo-Costituzione.pdf.</ref>

==== Japan ==== 

A court's duties regarding judgments are outlined in "民事訴訟法及び民事保全法の" (''Code of Civil Procedure'').<ref>''Minji Soshōhō'' [Code of Civil Procedure] (Japan), ''translated at'' http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=337360#Part2Chap5.</ref> The ''Code'' states that a final judgment must be made "when the suit is ripe for making a judicial decision."<ref>''Minji Soshōhō'' [Code of Civil Procedure], art. 243(1) (Japan), ''translated at'' http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=337360#Part2Chap5 ([[WIPO Lex]]).</ref> The judgment must contain the names of the parties, the court, the final date of oral argument, the facts, and the reasons for decision<ref>''Minji Soshōhō'' [Code of Civil Procedure], art. 253(1) (Japan), ''translated at'' http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=337360#Part2Chap5.</ref> subject to some exceptions.<ref>''Minji Soshōhō'' [Code of Civil Procedure], art. 254(1) (Japan), ''translated at'' http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=337360#Part2Chap5 ([[WIPO Lex]]).</ref> A judgment must be rendered within two months of the conclusion of oral arguments unless exceptional circumstances apply<ref>''Minji Soshōhō'' [Code of Civil Procedure], art. 251(1) (Japan), ''translated at'' http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=337360#Part2Chap5 ([[WIPO Lex]]).</ref> and becomes effective once it has been rendered.<ref>''Minji Soshōhō'' [Code of Civil Procedure], art. 250 (Japan), ''translated at'' http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=337360#Part2Chap5 ([[WIPO Lex]]).</ref>