prejudgment

This term carries a strong negative connotation, typically implying a lack of objectivity or a failure of fairness. It describes a cognitive shortcut where a conclusion is reached prematurely, often leading to bias or prejudice. While it can describe a neutral act of deciding in advance, in legal and social contexts, it almost always suggests an unfair advantage or a closed mind.

In legal settings, the word is used with high precision to describe a situation where a judge or juror has formed an opinion before the evidence is presented, which can be grounds for recusal or a mistrial. It differs from "prejudice" in that prejudgment refers specifically to the act or the result of judging too early, whereas prejudice refers to the ingrained feeling or attitude that results from such judgments.