What principle binds courts to follow precedent unless there is a compelling reason to overturn?

What principle binds courts to follow precedent unless there is a compelling reason to overturn?

• A. Mootness
• B. Stare decisis
• C. Standing
• D. Res judicata

Answer: (B)

Stare decisis is the principle that courts follow established precedent to keep the law predictable and stable. It binds courts to apply what earlier courts decided, unless there’s a compelling reason to overturn. A compelling reason can include recognizing that a prior ruling was seriously flawed, that the legal reasoning has become outdated, or that new facts, societal values, or constitutional interpretations call for a different result. A classic illustration is Brown v. Board of Education, which overruled the earlier Plessy v. Ferguson decision to reflect a changed understanding of equality and the Constitution. Mootness, standing, and res judicata describe different concepts that don’t capture the idea of adhering to precedent unless a strong reason to depart is present. Mootness is about whether a case remains live; standing is about whether a party has the right to sue; res judicata bars relitigating claims that have been finally decided.

Stare decisis is the principle that courts follow established precedent to keep the law predictable and stable. It binds courts to apply what earlier courts decided, unless there’s a compelling reason to overturn. A compelling reason can include recognizing that a prior ruling was seriously flawed, that the legal reasoning has become outdated, or that new facts, societal values, or constitutional interpretations call for a different result. A classic illustration is Brown v. Board of Education, which overruled the earlier Plessy v. Ferguson decision to reflect a changed understanding of equality and the Constitution.

Mootness, standing, and res judicata describe different concepts that don’t capture the idea of adhering to precedent unless a strong reason to depart is present. Mootness is about whether a case remains live; standing is about whether a party has the right to sue; res judicata bars relitigating claims that have been finally decided.