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consent decree

A consent decree (also known as a consent order ) is a decree made by a judge with the consent of all parties . It is not strictly a judgment , but rather a settlement agreement approved by the court . The agreement is submitted to the court in writing after the parties have reached a settlement, and once approved by the judge, the agreement is binding and enforceable on both parties. A consent decree is not appealable , except that it can be set aside by the court for fraud on the part of one party, or for error on the part of both parties.  

A consent decree is also often used in government regulation in areas such as antitrust , securities , and environmental law . When the government sues a person or company and the defendant agrees to stop its illegal conduct, the government may agree not to pursue the case, and the court approves and issues a consent decree.

[Last reviewed in July of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team
]

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