The exercise of discretion and independent judgment "involves the comparison and the evaluation of possible courses of conduct and acting or making a decision after the various possibilities have been considered. The term ... implies that the person has the authority or power to make an independent choice, free from immediate direction or supervision and with respect to matters of significance." (Richardson v. Ruan Transp. Corp., Cal. App. Unpub. (Sep. 8, 2020).)
The power or right to act according to the dictates of one's own judgment and conscience, uncontrolled by the judgment or conscience of others. -Black's Law Dictionary
The freedom and authority to decide what to do. -Collins English Dictionary
The right to choose what should be done in a particular situation. -The Britannica Dictionary
The right to make a choice, based on judgment. -Cambridge Dictionary
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