term:

Former Adjudication

former adjudication n

: a procedural doctrine that bars relitigation by the same parties of the same issues or claims upon which a judgment has already been rendered NOTE: Estoppel by judgment and res judicata are the two branches of former adjudication, although res judicata is often used broadly to mean former adjudication.

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.