Legal terminology · Decisions & reasoning
stare decisis — Follow precedent
stare decisis means follow precedent. Latin source words and legal terminology examples: Reliance on stare decisis.
Meaning and source words
Meaning: Follow precedent
- Latin: stare decisis
Examples and word parts
Reliance on stare decisis
The practice of following earlier decisions when deciding comparable legal questions.
Word parts: stare (stand) + decisis (decided matters)
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Related decisions & reasoning terms
- de novo — Anew
De novo review
- res judicata — Claim preclusion
A res judicata argument
- ratio decidendi — Reason for deciding
Identifying the ratio decidendi
- obiter dictum — An incidental judicial remark
An observation described as dictum
- prima facie — At first appearance
Prima facie evidence
- a fortiori — With stronger reason
An a fortiori argument
- ad hoc — For this purpose
An ad hoc committee
- de facto — In fact or in practice
De facto control
Sources and usage
From the Word Radicals legal terminology collection. Source words and word parts are learning references; modern meanings can differ from their classical sources.