Legal Definitions - rule of decision

A rule of decision refers to the specific legal principle, statute, body of law, or prior court ruling that a judge or court uses as the fundamental basis to resolve a legal dispute or make a judgment in a case. It is the authoritative guide that dictates how a particular legal issue should be decided, ensuring consistency and predictability in the application of law.

• Example 1: Applying a Statute

  Imagine a case where a local business is accused of violating a city ordinance that prohibits excessive noise after 10 PM. The judge presiding over the case will refer to the specific text of that city ordinance, which clearly defines what constitutes "excessive noise" and the penalties for violating it. The city ordinance itself serves as the rule of decision, guiding the judge in determining whether a violation occurred and what the appropriate legal consequence should be.

• Example 2: Following Legal Precedent

  Consider a lawsuit between two companies over a breach of contract, specifically regarding a clause that was ambiguously worded. If a higher court in the same jurisdiction has previously issued a ruling interpreting a very similar ambiguous contract clause in a different case, the judge in the current case would likely follow that prior ruling. This previous court decision acts as a rule of decision, providing a binding interpretation that helps the judge decide how to apply the law to the current contractual dispute.

• Example 3: Using Common Law Principles

  Suppose a pedestrian is injured after tripping on a broken sidewalk in front of a commercial property. There might not be a specific statute directly addressing every possible sidewalk hazard. In such a situation, the court would likely rely on established common law principles of negligence, which require property owners to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition to prevent harm to visitors. These long-standing principles of negligence law become the rule of decision, guiding the judge in determining if the property owner owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and if that breach caused the pedestrian's injuries.