What does "set aside" mean in a court case?

Asked by: Dante Welch  |  Last update: October 13, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (70 votes)

A criminal conviction set-aside is an order by the judge who sentenced you in a criminal case which voids the conviction. It does not remove the conviction from your criminal record, it does offset it by adding the Order Setting Aside the conviction and a notation to the file.

What does it mean when a decision is set aside?

When a court renders a decision of another court to be invalid , that verdict or decision is set aside; see also annul or vacate . The phrase is often used in the context of appeals , when an appellate court invalidates the judgment of a lower court.

What happens when a sentence is set aside?

Generally speaking, to vacate or set aside a conviction or sentence means nullifying the court's judgment on your case. In other words, when the court grants your petition to vacate a conviction, it will look as if your case's trial and judgment never occurred, but it does not mean your case is over.

What happens after a judgement is set aside?

If the judge grants your motion and sets aside the default judgment, any money taken from you should be returned (unless the judge orders something different). The case is not over though. Once the judgment is set aside, the case starts up again.

What does it mean when a motion is set aside?

In law, a motion to set aside judgment is an application to overturn or set aside a court's judgment, verdict or other final ruling in a case. Such a motion is proposed by a party who is dissatisfied with the result of a case.

What does an Arizona Motion to Set Aside Conviction Do and Not Do A.R.S. 13-907?

19 related questions found

When can a judge set aside a verdict?

Once a jury reaches a decision, the judge can still set aside the verdict. Attorneys can move for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) if they believe the other side has failed to prove their case.

When a court sets aside a decision of a lower trial court, the decision is?

Reversed - changes to the contrary to opinion of the lower court/body. Reversed in Part - part of the judgment of the lower court was reversed. Vacated - sets aside the judgment of the lower court. Vacated in Part - part of the judgment of the lower court was set aside, or vacated.

Does a Judgement become final?

Final judgment is the last decision from a court that resolves all issues in dispute and settles the parties' rights with respect to those issues. A final judgment leaves nothing to be decided except decisions on how to enforce the judgment, whether to award costs , and whether to file an appeal .

How to prove you were not served properly?

Surveillance: You can provide surveillance footage showing you were not served at the alleged date or that the service was improper. Mail Records: If there's no mail delivered to you or if you haven't signed the receipt. It can indicate improper service.

What is the difference between set aside and vacate Judgement?

For example, a party might file a motion to set aside if they believe the court made a factual error in its decision, or if new evidence has come to light that could potentially change the outcome of the case. 2. **Motion to Vacate**: This is generally used to ask the court to withdraw a judgment or order.

What is a simple sentence for set aside?

He had some money in an account that he'd set aside for his kids. [ + to infinitive ] I set aside half an hour every evening to hear Erik read. I set aside some of the soup for Jim to have later. We set aside a few dollars a month to buy furniture.

What is the right to set aside?

Where an order has been made by the court of its own initiative, or without a hearing, the parties are entitled to apply to the court to have that order set aside or varied. '

What does it mean when a sentence is set aside?

A criminal conviction set-aside is an order by the judge who sentenced you in a criminal case which voids the conviction. It does not remove the conviction from your criminal record, it does offset it by adding the Order Setting Aside the conviction and a notation to the file.

What if a judge ignores the law?

If you feel the judge committed misconduct, what you can do would be to report him to your state's judiciary committee. If what he did is serious enough, he could be unseated, even potentially disbarred.

Who can overrule a judge?

Most federal court decisions, and some state court rulings, can be challenged. The U.S. courts of appeals usually have the last word. The nation's 94 federal judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a court of appeals.

What happens if the defendant does not get served?

Consequences of Never Getting Served Court Papers

Suppose you are the defendant in the court case that a person files against you. If you did not receive your court papers, then the plaintiff can ask the judge to proceed with the default judgment in your case.

What happens if the court messes up?

Clerical mistakes in judgments, orders, or other parts of the record and errors therein arising from oversight or omission may be corrected by the court at any time of its own initiative or on motion of any party and after such notice, if any, as the court orders.

What happens if you avoid being served court papers UK?

If papers cannot be served correctly, there could be a postponement of the case or even thrown out of court. That's why it is very important that you should contact a professional to ensure the process is completed accurately and legally.

What is a judge's final decision called?

Judgment: A court decision. Also called a decree or an order.

What happens after 5 years of Judgement?

Most judgments (the court order saying what you're owed) expire in 10 years. This means you can't collect on it after 10 years. To avoid this, you can ask the court to renew it.

Do Judgements go away after death?

Pursuant to the Probate Code, a judgment against a deceased judgment debtor is not usually enforceable against the debtor's estate under the Enforcement of Judgments Law. Instead, the judgment is payable in the course of administration.

What does it mean when a case is set aside?

What does Set aside mean? Cancelling a judgment or order or a step taken by a party in the proceedings.

What are the most common sentences in court?

The most common sentences are:
  • Absolute discharge.
  • Conditional discharge.
  • Suspended sentence.
  • Probation.
  • Fine.
  • Imprisonment (jail)
  • Intermittent sentence (“weekends”)
  • Conditional sentence (”house arrest”)

Can the same judge hear an appeal?

The substantive appeal will be heard by the judge who refused the paper application: should they be recused? You could ask the listing office whether a different judge is available. However, there is no procedural irregularity in the original circuit judge hearing the substantive appeal.