Which doctrine holds that courts in the same jurisdiction will follow prior decisions on the same issue unless change is warranted?

Which doctrine holds that courts in the same jurisdiction will follow prior decisions on the same issue unless change is warranted?

• A. Common law
• B. Stare decisis
• C. Codification of the common law
• D. Derogation of the common law

Answer: (B)

Stare decisis is the principle that courts will follow decisions rendered in earlier cases on the same issue within the same jurisdiction, preserving consistency and predictability unless there’s a reason to depart. This means lower courts are bound by earlier rulings, and higher courts can overrule or distinguish precedents if warranted by changes in the law, facts, or societal conditions. It’s what keeps the law stable over time while still allowing evolution when necessary. The other terms describe different ideas: common law is the body of law developed by judges; codification of the common law turns that body into statutes; derogation of the common law refers to reducing or overruling it. The described doctrine specifically captures the bind of precedent, i.e., stare decisis.

Stare decisis is the principle that courts will follow decisions rendered in earlier cases on the same issue within the same jurisdiction, preserving consistency and predictability unless there’s a reason to depart. This means lower courts are bound by earlier rulings, and higher courts can overrule or distinguish precedents if warranted by changes in the law, facts, or societal conditions. It’s what keeps the law stable over time while still allowing evolution when necessary. The other terms describe different ideas: common law is the body of law developed by judges; codification of the common law turns that body into statutes; derogation of the common law refers to reducing or overruling it. The described doctrine specifically captures the bind of precedent, i.e., stare decisis.