Are appellate court decisions binding on lower courts?

Appellate court decisions in Texas are binding on lower courts. This means that if the appellate court decides a case, the decision is considered the law and must be followed by the lower court. Appellate court decisions are binding because appeals court rulings are the final say on a matter of law. In Texas, when an appellate court decision is handed down, it becomes the basis of law in the state. This means that lower courts must follow the appellate court’s decision when deciding an issue. If an appellate court finds that a law is unconstitutional, all lower courts must follow that ruling and must no longer enforce the law. Lower courts cannot change or ignore an appellate court decision. A lower court may disagree with the decision and choose not to follow the precedent, but they cannot create their own interpretation of the law or decide to ignore the higher court’s ruling. This is why appellate court decisions are binding. In Texas, not only are appellate court decisions binding on lower courts, but a court may also agree to follow a decision from another state’s court of appeals. However, a lower court is not obligated to do so. Appellate court decisions are binding because they represent the final say on a matter of law. If a state Supreme Court hears a case, its decision is not only binding on lower courts in that state, but on all other courts that could potentially hear the same case.

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Are appellate court decisions binding on lower courts?

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