balancing test
A balancing test is a subjective test in which a court weighs competing interests. For instance, a court would weigh the interest of an inmate's liberty interest and the government's interest in public safety, to decide which interest prevails.
See, e.g. Wilkinson v. Austin, 545 U.S. 209 (2005).
Contrast: Bright-line rule
[Last reviewed in March 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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