split decision

split decision (plural split decisions)

1. A decision that is not unanimous made by a panel of decision-makers, such as an appellate court.
   • 2017, “Microsoft Corp. v. United States - Second Circuit”, in American Bar Association‎, American Bar Association:

     In a four-to-four split decision, with one concurring and four dissenting written opinions, the Second Circuit denied rehearing en banc.

   • 2017, “Fiji assessors find sedition accused not guilty, in split decision”, in RNZ‎, Radio New Zealand:

     Fiji assessors find sedition accused not guilty, in split decision. A panel of assessors in Fiji has found 16 people accused of sedition not guilty, in a split majority decision. The verdict was handed down in the Lautoka High Court this afternoon, with three assessors finding the accused not guilty, while two said they were guilty.

2. (competitive fighting) an outcome in several full-contact combat sports where two of the three judges score for the same fighter as the winner, while the third judge scores for the other fighter.

Often confused with the similar but not equivalent majority decision.