Legal Precedent and Stare Decisis
11th Grade · Social Studies · 45 min
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Learning Objective
I can explain how legal precedent and stare decisis influence court decisions.
- 1
The principle of stare decisis, Latin for 'let the decision stand,' guides Supreme Court justices to use previous rulings as examples in similar cases, establishing precedent.
- 2
Although the Supreme Court aims to be objective, justices' views and experiences introduce subjectivity, and presidential appointments can shift the court's direction over time.
- 3
The Supreme Court case Brown versus Board of Education overturned the precedent set by Plessy versus Ferguson, demonstrating how changes in politics and judicial appointments can alter legal interpretations.
