precedential cases

Precedential cases are court decisions that establish legal principles or interpretations that lower courts and future cases are expected to follow. They serve as a guiding authority, ensuring consistency and stability in the application of the law. When a higher court, like a supreme court, rules on a particular issue, that decision becomes precedent, influencing how similar cases are decided later. Essentially, precedential cases create a legal roadmap, helping courts apply the law consistently across different situations.