A declaratory judgment is a court-issued judgment that defines and outlines the rights and obligations of each party in a contract. Declaratory judgments permit parties to a controversy to determine rights, duties, obligations or status.There can be a judgment awarding money or dismissing claims, a declaratory judgment (CPLR 3001),. i.e. A declaratory judgment is a binding judgment from a court defining the legal relationship between parties and their rights in a matter before the court. Watch the video to find out what is a declaratory judgment action My Business is to Protect your Business. CPLR § 3001 authorizes the Supreme Court to render a declaratory judgment. A SUMMARY JUDGMENT (SJ) in a civil case means that the trial process was terminated early under a rule like Federal Rule 56. State filed a declaratory judgment action against Great Northern in the United States District of Massachusetts. Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Suffolk.