Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
stare decisis
noun
/ˈstɛr ə dɪˈsaɪ sɪs/
Definition
A legal principle that obligates courts to follow historical cases when making a ruling on a similar case.
Examples
- The court decided to uphold the ruling based on the principle of stare decisis, ensuring that similar cases would be judged alike.
- Stare decisis encourages stability in the legal system by following previous judicial decisions.
Meaning
The doctrine that courts should respect the precedent set by previous legal decisions to ensure consistency and predictability in the law.
Synonyms
- Precedent
- Legal precedent
- Judicial precedent
