What legal principle states that past court decisions are used as precedents in future cases?

The principle that past court decisions serve as precedents for future cases is known as Stare Decisis. This doctrine plays a crucial role in the legal system by ensuring consistency and predictability in the law. When judges resolve cases, they often refer to the rulings made in previous cases that share similar facts or legal issues. This reliance on established interpretations of the law helps create a cohesive legal framework and allows individuals and entities to understand how the law is likely to be applied in similar circumstances.

Stare Decisis promotes stability in the legal system, as it encourages adherence to prior rulings unless there is a compelling reason to overturn them. It enables lawyers to predict outcomes based on established precedents, allowing them to build their cases accordingly. This is particularly important in areas of law where reliance on past constructs is essential for fairness, such as in tort law, contract law, and constitutional law.

In contrast, the other concepts listed do not pertain to the use of past court decisions as precedents. The Statute of Limitations refers to the time period within which a legal claim must be filed. Res Judicata, or claim preclusion, prevents a party from re-litigating a case that has already been judged on its merits. Cod