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
And in January, in another per curiam opinion, the court struck down the Department of Labor’s COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandate for most U.S. employers.
—
Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2022
The full opinions and other court proceedings, including per curiam decisions, orders and submissions, can be found on the internet at arcourts.gov.
—The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 18 Nov. 2022
The short per curiam decision said the ordinance violated the First Amendment's protections for religious freedom.
—Jeremiah Poff, Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 2023
Cole appealed the verdict to the 8th Circuit and on Monday a three-judge panel consisting of Circuit Court Judges Duane Benton, Ralph Erickson and Jonathan Kobes affirmed the verdict in a brief, one-page per curiam -- or unanimous -- decision.
—Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 13 Dec. 2022
The majority opinion was per curiam, or unanimous, of Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, a Republican, and Democratic Justices Melody Stewart and Jennifer Brunner.
—cleveland, 10 Oct. 2022
Last fall, in a short per curiam opinion, the court struck down the Center for Disease Control’s eviction moratorium.
—Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2022
The full opinions and other court proceedings, including per curiam decisions, orders and submissions, can be found on the Internet at arcourts.gov.
—The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 25 June 2021
However, in November 2020, a per curiam ruling of the Supreme Court in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo changed the analysis specifically as to church closings.
—Star Tribune, 11 Apr. 2021
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Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2022
The full opinions and other court proceedings, including per curiam decisions, orders and submissions, can be found on the internet at arcourts.gov.
—The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 18 Nov. 2022
The short per curiam decision said the ordinance violated the First Amendment's protections for religious freedom.
—Jeremiah Poff, Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 2023
Cole appealed the verdict to the 8th Circuit and on Monday a three-judge panel consisting of Circuit Court Judges Duane Benton, Ralph Erickson and Jonathan Kobes affirmed the verdict in a brief, one-page per curiam -- or unanimous -- decision.
—Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 13 Dec. 2022
The majority opinion was per curiam, or unanimous, of Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, a Republican, and Democratic Justices Melody Stewart and Jennifer Brunner.
—cleveland, 10 Oct. 2022
Last fall, in a short per curiam opinion, the court struck down the Center for Disease Control’s eviction moratorium.
—Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2022
The full opinions and other court proceedings, including per curiam decisions, orders and submissions, can be found on the Internet at arcourts.gov.
—The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 25 June 2021
However, in November 2020, a per curiam ruling of the Supreme Court in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo changed the analysis specifically as to church closings.
—Star Tribune, 11 Apr. 2021
See More
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.
Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin per curiam, literally, by the court
First Known Use
1650, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near per curiam
Cite this Entry
“Per curiam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/per%20curiam. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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Legal 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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