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abuse of discretion legal definition

noun

A trial court or administrative agencyÂ’s ruling on a matter within its discretion that, in light of the relevant facts and law, is arbitrary, capricious, unconscionable, unfair, unreasonable, or illegal. An appellate court will not reverse a ruling that was within the discretion of the trial court or administrative agency merely because the appellate court would have reached a different decision. Instead, the trial court or administrative agencyÂ’s decision must be wholly inconsistent with the facts and the law and with any reasonable deductions that can be made therefrom.
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