A decision made by the judge at a pre-trial court hearing in a civil case, which ends the case without a trial. It is used when the facts and evidence of the case are not in dispute, and judgment can be made for one party purely as a matter of law. Typically the request for summary judgment is made by the defendant. It may be directed at all, or only part, of a claim.

It is usually granted if the judge finds that "no genuine issue of material fact exists" that could be resolved in a trial.