n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made such a bad mista...

an error of judgment by a trial court in making a ruling that is clearly unreasonable, erroneous, or arbitrary and not justified by the facts or the law applicable in the case compare clearly ...

The term abuse of discretion is comprehensively defined as follows:

n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made such a bad mistake ("clearly against reason and evidence" or against established law) during a trial or on ruling on a motion that a person d [..]

Abuse of discretion is a standard of review whereby a determination of a fact by either a judge or a jury, or a determination of the admissibility of evidence by a judge, can only be overturned on appeal if it is determined that the judge or jury exercised an abuse of discretion in admitting certain evidence or in determining a certain fact. Instan [..]

(legal) The rendering of a decision by a court that is so unreasonable in light of the facts of the case or is such an unreasonable deviation from legal precedent that it must be reversed. (legal) [..]