What is the doctrine of stare decisis?

Stare decisis is a legal doctrine that requires judges to follow the decisions of higher courts in similar cases. This means that if a similar case has been decided on in the past, lower courts should follow the same ruling. This rule is important because it helps provide consistency with court decisions. In California, the state Supreme Court has the highest authority on matters related to state law, and its decisions will be followed by all other courts in the state. The doctrine of stare decisis is based on the idea that the law should not be different in every case, but should remain stable and consistent. It helps the court system to be fair and predictable, and it encourages justice to be based on legal principles instead of personal biases. This helps ensure that individuals are treated equally and that people can trust that the court will reach the same decision when similar facts exist. The doctrine of stare decisis also helps conserve judicial resources. If all of the lower courts had to consider the facts of a case separately and come up with a completely new decision, there would be much more court time, costs, and resources needed. By requiring judges to follow the decisions of higher courts, judges can spend their time on more important matters.

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What is the doctrine of stare decisis?

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