In deciding summary judgment, what test best describes the judge’s assessment?

• A. A jury must decide after hearing all witnesses
• B. A panel must evaluate credibility
• C. A reasonable jury could go either way
• D. The judge alone decides without any jury reference

Answer: (C)

At summary judgment, the judge’s question is whether there is a genuine dispute about material facts that a reasonable jury could resolve in either party’s favor. If a reasonable jury could go either way on the essential facts, there’s a genuine issue, so summary judgment should not be granted. If a reasonable jury could not arrive at a different result, the judge can decide the case as a matter of law.

That makes the choice describing “a reasonable jury could go either way” the best fit. It captures the core idea: the presence of a genuine factual dispute that would be decided by a jury precludes summary judgment. The other statements describe trial processes or interpret credibility issues, which aren’t the standard test for summary judgment.