precedents

Precedents are previous court decisions that serve as a guide for judges when making rulings on similar cases in the future. They establish established principles or standards of law, ensuring consistency and fairness in the judicial process. Think of them as legal "rules of thumb" derived from past rulings that influence how current cases are interpreted and decided. Precedents help maintain stability in the law, allowing people and organizations to understand what is legally expected or prohibited based on historical rulings. They are fundamental to common law systems, where past decisions shape future legal outcomes.