Mootness

Definition

A legal doctrine holding that a case must be dismissed if the controversy has been resolved or the plaintiff no longer faces any real threat of harm. Unlike standing (which looks at whether a case was proper when filed), mootness asks whether the dispute is still live.

Examples

• •The US argued that Colorado's late-stage reinterpretation of its statute raises mootness concerns rather than standing issues, since there was a credible threat when the case was filed.

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