a system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents rather than statutory laws; "common law originated in the unwritten laws of England and was later applied in the United States"
n In Law, a previous decision, rule or practice which, in the absence of a definite statute, has whatever force and authority a Judge may choose to give it, thereby greatly simplifying his task of doing as he pleases As there are precedents for everything, he has only to ignore those that make against his interest and accentuate those in the line of his desire Invention of the precedent elevates the trial-at-law from the low estate of a fortuitous ordeal to the noble attitude of a dirigible arbitrament
(Précédent) Generally refers to something that has happened earlier in time In the courts, the ruling of an earlier court in a similar sets of circumstances is considered as a guide in deciding on a current case A decision on any point establishes a precedent which might be expected to be followed in similar situations which may arise in the future
A decision or determination of a point of law made by a court in a case to be followed by a court of the same rank, or of a lower rank, in a subsequent case presenting the same legal problem, although different parties are involved in the subsequent case
1 A previously decided case recognized as an authority for the disposition of future cases In common law, precedents were regarded as the major source of law A precedent may involve a novel question of common law or it may involve an interpretation of a statute To the extent that future cases rely upon the precedent or distinguish it from themselves without disapproving of it, the case will serve as a precedent for future cases
A judicial decision which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases; an authority to be followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in similar cases
A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way
an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time a subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time) preceding in time, order, or significance
If there is a precedent for an action or event, it has happened before, and this can be regarded as an argument for doing it again. The trial could set an important precedent for dealing with large numbers of similar cases
An act or instance that may be used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances Also, a judicial decision that may be used as a standard in subsequent similar cases
A case which establishes legal principles to a certain set of facts, coming to a certain conclusion, and which is to be followed from that point on when similar or identical facts are before a court A prior judicial decision that serves as an example or rule to authorize or justify other decisions in similar cases that follow
A court's decision which must generally be followed by that court and the lower courts in the same jurisdiction in cases involving the same issue and substantially the same facts