← Legal Glossary
Stare decisis
Definition
The legal principle that courts should follow their prior decisions to ensure stability and predictability in the law. Overruling a precedent requires special justification, and courts consider factors like how wrong the decision was, reliance interests, and workability.
Examples
- •Respondents argued 90 years of reliance on Humphrey's Executor by Congress, Presidents, and agencies creates overwhelming stare decisis interests