Obiter Dicta

Obiter dicta are statements or observations made by a judge in a legal ruling that are not essential to the decision in the case. They are essentially comments or opinions that provide context or insight but do not have the binding authority of the core legal reasoning (the ratio decidendi). While obiter dicta can be persuasive and influence future cases, they are not legally binding precedent. These remarks often help clarify the judge’s thinking or address hypothetical scenarios, but the main ruling remains based on the primary reasons for the decision.