Definitions:

1. A side comment or extra thought a judge includes in a ruling, that is not part of the official ruling. NOUN
   • Law students often study obiter dictum to understand how legal thought is evolving, even if it's not binding precedent.
2. Refers to a remark or observation made by a judge in a legal opinion that is not essential to the decision of the case. NOUN
   • The judge's comments on digital privacy were considered an obiter dictum, since the case focused only on search warrants.

Synonyms:

• "other things said"
• "said in passing"
• dictum
• obiter dicta
• passing comment