A dissenting opinion is:

• A. A concurrence with the majority
• B. A disagreement with the majority
• C. An administrative ruling
• D. A procedural note

Answer: (B)

A dissenting opinion is a judge’s written disagreement with the majority’s ruling, explained in terms of why they would decide differently and what alternative reasoning should govern the outcome. It preserves the judge’s stance in writing, often detailing errors they see in the majority’s analysis or highlighting legal principles they think the court overlooked. This kind of opinion is not binding precedent, but it can be persuasive and may influence future cases or doctrinal developments.

For contrast, a concurrence is when a judge agrees with the final result but writes separately to express different reasoning. An administrative ruling is a decision from a government agency, not a court’s opinion. A procedural note is not a formal judicial decision addressing the merits of the case.