Stare Decisis
legal principle /ˌstɛər.eɪ dɪˈsaɪ.sɪs/ — The legal principle of following precedent
Definition
The doctrine that courts should follow precedent — that previous decisions bind future cases involving similar facts. Stare decisis is the foundation of common law consistency: like cases should be decided alike.
Beyond the definition
Stare decisis is conservatism made legal — the built-in resistance to change in common law systems. It provides certainty and predictability, which is its gift; it preserves past errors, which is its cost.
Origin & history
Latin: stare decisis et non quieta movere — 'to stand by things decided and not disturb settled matters'. The foundational principle of common law countries, ensuring consistency across time.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The court followed stare decisis, even though several judges believed the precedent should be reversed.
Overturning stare decisis requires extraordinary justification — and even then is controversial.
Stare decisis is why law remembers. It is also why it sometimes remembers wrongly.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Stare Decisis” when the meaning fits your context: The doctrine that courts should follow precedent — that previous decisions bind future cases involving similar facts. Stare decisis is the foundation of common law consistency: like cases should be decided alike.
Synonyms
follow precedent, precedent doctrine, consistency principle
Antonyms
overturning precedent, judicial activism
Related words
Stare Decisis vs res judicata
Stare decisis is the doctrine of following established legal precedents. Res judicata means a matter has been judged and cannot be relitigated.
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Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Anchoring Decisions in Precedent
An adult opens a heavy, ancient book filled with handwritten records in a quiet archive.
The act of consulting archived records reflects the doctrine of stare decisis, where current decisions are guided by past precedents. The heavy book serves as a visual proxy for established history, requiring that similar cases be decided according to previous consistent standards.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Stare Decisis" mean?
Stare Decisis is legal principle meaning: The legal principle of following precedent. The doctrine that courts should follow precedent — that previous decisions bind future cases involving similar facts. Stare decisis is the foundation of common law consistency: like cases should be decided alike.
Where does the word "Stare Decisis" come from?
Latin: stare decisis et non quieta movere — 'to stand by things decided and not disturb settled matters'. The foundational principle of common law countries, ensuring consistency across time.