Legal Definitions - doctrine of precedent

The doctrine of precedent is a legal principle that states that previous court decisions should be followed when similar cases arise in the future. This principle is also known as stare decisis.

For example, if a court has previously ruled that a certain action is illegal, then future courts should follow that ruling when faced with a similar case. This helps to ensure consistency and predictability in the legal system.

The doctrine of precedent is important because it helps to establish a body of legal principles that can be relied upon by judges, lawyers, and citizens. It also helps to prevent arbitrary or inconsistent decisions from being made.