This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
Here's a plain English summary of this rule:
When these rules talk about a "judgment," they mean more than just a final court decision. It also includes decrees and any other court order that can be appealed. So if a rule mentions judgments, that same rule usually applies to these other types of decisions too.
The rule also makes judgments simpler to write. A judgment does not need to repeat everything that happened in the case. It does not have to summarize the paperwork filed, restate a master's report, or list out the history of prior proceedings. The judgment just needs to state the court's decision, without extra background information attached to it.
This matters because it keeps judgments short and focused. Courts can issue a clear, final decision without cluttering it with case history that is already on file elsewhere in the court record.
