What does "res judicata" refer to in legal terms?

The term "res judicata" refers to a legal doctrine that bars the re-litigation of claims or issues that have already been resolved by a competent court in a final judgment. This principle serves to uphold the finality of judgments and ensures that parties cannot bring forth new lawsuits for the same issue that has already been decided. The rationale behind res judicata is to promote judicial efficiency by preventing unnecessary legal battles over settled matters, thus protecting the integrity of the judicial system and providing certainty for the parties involved.

The other options do not accurately represent the concept of res judicata. The procedure for challenging jury verdicts is different, focusing on post-trial motions and appeals, while rules concerning the admissibility of evidence pertain to what can be presented in court rather than the barring of cases. Mediation, on the other hand, is an alternative dispute resolution method that involves a neutral third party facilitating negotiation between parties, which is unrelated to the resolution of past lawsuits.