Question

The opinion that receives the support of the largest number of justices, but does not command a majority of the Court, is referred to as a(n) _____.
a. majority opinion
b. plurality opinion
c. sanctioned opinion
d. anteceding opinion
e. certiorari opinion

Answer 1

Answer:

The opinion that receives the support of the largest number of justices, but does not command a majority of the Court, is referred to as a plurality opinion.

Explanation:

According to the legal definition, a plurality opinion is the controlling or most popular opinion within a group of judges (usually in an appellate court), when no majority opinion exists.  

A majority opinion is when more than half of the court agrees on the same opinion and the same explanation of de decision behind the court's decision.

In the case of plurality opinion, more than half of the court agrees on the same opinion but disagrees on the explanation of the decision.

For example, if in a case where 9 judges are implied, 4 of them agree on option A and the other 4 agree on option B, each of them explain their reasons and the 9th judge agrees on option A but not in the reasons given to take that option, the court will go with option A as 5 judges agree in that option even if there was not a majority of opinion.