英文中有很多词都含有“判决、裁决”之义，它们之间有什么区别吗？可以举例说明吗？

先来说说“decree”和“judgment”，Wex的解释如下：

“A decree is an order handed down by a judge that resolves the issues in a court case. Though a decree is similar to a judgment, it differs in a few key ways:

(1) Historically, courts of equity, admiralty, divorce, or probate could make decrees while a court of law rendered judgments.

(2) After the passage of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure which largely dissolved the distinction between courts of equity and law, most courts can now consider all remedies, including decrees.

Note, however, that a decree is often still referred to as a judgment.

(3) A decree follows an assessment of the rights of involved parties. 

(4) In addition, a decree can be used to address a right that is not recognized by common law. 

For example, a judge presiding over a court of equity may issue a decree in favor of specific performance as a remedy for a victorious party in a contract case. 

(5) Decrees may also include directions that guide how they are to be applied, which adds to their utility as flexible remedies.”

从上文可以看出，在过去，衡平法院、海事法院、离婚法院或遗嘱检验法院作出的判决使用的是“decree”，而普通法法院作出的判决使用的是“judgment”。但是，《美国联邦民事诉讼规则》通过后，在很大程度上消除了衡平法院和普通法法院之间的差别。就目前而言，“decree”也经常被称为“judgment”。

至于“verdict”“judgment”“ruling”，Wex作出了如下定义：

“A jury's findings or conclusions on the factual issues presented by a case. Sometimes, the term also refers to the judge's resolution of issues in a bench trial.

Judgment means the final decision made by a court or tribunal. After the judges consider all the relevant evidence of the legal trial and consider all rights and obligations, the plaintiff and defendant will receive the final ruling. This judgment could end the potential or existing dispute among the dispute parties by listing which side was ruled in favor of, and listing what remedies are to be awarded. According to U.S.C.§636(c)(3), each party could appeal directly to the court of appeal(s) against the existing judgment.

A ruling is a court’s decision on a matter presented in a lawsuit. A ruling could refer to a judgment, which can be final or non-final. A ruling could also refer to a court’s decision on a party’s motion or application for a writ.”

由此可知，“verdict”指的是陪审团针对某一案件提出的事实问题所作的裁决或结论，有时也指法官审判时作出的裁决。“Judgment”是指经法官审议相关证据和所有权利义务后法院或审裁庭作出的最终裁决，其中会指明裁决有利于哪一方当事人，以及判定采取哪种救济方式，若不服判决，各方当事人可提起上诉。“Ruling”是指法院针对诉讼提出的事实作出的裁决，也可以称作“judgment”，但是，既可以是终局裁决，也可以是非终局裁决。

除此之外，《元照英美法词典》对“finding”“determination”“holding”的解释如下：

“Finding”通常指法庭或陪审团经审议后作出的结论，也指行政部门的决定。

“Determination”可指终局性的判决，对初审法院作出的此种判决可以上诉。

“Holding”既可以指法庭就对其判决来说属关键性的法律问题所作的裁决，也可以指法官就庭审中提出的证据或其他问题所作的裁决。

例句1：

Subject to subsection (2), in pursuance of the criminal jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal, any power of the Court of Appeal not involving the determination of the appeal may be exercised by a single Justice of Appeal in the same manner as it may be exercised by the Court of Appeal and subject to the same provisions.（来源：香港《高等法院条例》第34A条第(1)款）

除第(2)款另有规定外，依据上诉法庭的刑事司法管辖权，上诉法庭任何不涉及上诉的裁定的权力，均可由单一名上诉法庭法官行使，方式与上诉法庭行使该权力的方式相同，并须受相同条文规限。

例句2：

Except as provided by rules of court, no appeal lies to the Court of Appeal from an interlocutory judgment or order of the Court of First Instance in any civil cause or matter unless leave to appeal has been granted by the Court of First Instance or the Court of Appeal.（来源：香港《高等法院条例》第14AA条第(1)款）

除法院规则另有规定外，任何人不得针对原讼法庭在任何民事讼案或事宜中作出的非正审判决或命令向上诉法庭提出上诉，但如原讼法庭或上诉法庭已批予上诉许可，则属例外。

例句3：

Where any cause or matter or any issue in any cause or matter has been tried in the Court of First Instance, any application for a new trial thereof, or to set aside a verdict, finding or judgment therein, shall be heard and determined by the Court of Appeal.（来源：香港《高等法院条例》第15条第(1)款）

凡任何讼案或事宜或任何讼案或事宜中的任何争论点已由原讼法庭审讯，则要求将其重新审讯的申请，或要求将在其中作出的裁决、裁断或判决作废的申请，须由上诉法庭聆讯并裁定。

例句4：

This section shall apply to a judgment, order, decree or award however called of any court or arbitrator or umpire, including any foreign court or foreign arbitrator or umpire, which is or has become enforceable, whether wholly or to a limited extent, as it applies to a judgment or order of the Court of First Instance.（来源：香港《高等法院条例》第20条第(4)款）

本条适用于任何法院或仲裁员或公断人（包括任何外国法院或外国仲裁员或公断人）作出的属全部或在某限定范围内可强制执行或已成为可强制执行的判决、命令、判令或裁决（不论其名称为何），一如其适用于原讼法庭作出的判决或命令。