legal precedents
Legal precedents are previous court decisions that serve as a guide for judges in future cases. When a court makes a ruling, that decision can influence how similar cases are handled later. This principle helps ensure consistency and fairness in the legal system.
Judges often refer to legal precedents to interpret laws and apply them to new situations. If a case has been decided in a certain way, other courts may follow that ruling, especially if it comes from a higher court, like a Supreme Court. This practice is known as "stare decisis," which means to stand by things decided.