stare decisis
noun
sta·re de·ci·sis ˌster-ē-di-ˈsī-səs 
ˌstär-
: a doctrine or policy of following rules or principles laid down in previous judicial decisions unless they contravene the ordinary principles of justice
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Precedent, or stare decisis, is fundamental to our constitutional system. 
Adam J. White, WSJ, 23 May 2022 During confirmation hearings and in past decisions, conservative Justices extoled the virtues of stare decisis—the legal principle of keeping prior rulings in place. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Although the Court indeed discarded the legal principle of stare decisis in both reversals (from Plessy to Brown and Roe to Dobbs), there is a critical difference between the two opinions. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 11 July 2022 And one person's stare decisis is another person's bad precedent. James Brown, USA TODAY, 26 June 2022 Weakening stare decisis creates profound legal instability. Sofia Lotto Persio, Quartz, 24 June 2022 The dissent is appealing to precedent, to stare decisis, and thus is understandably invested in defending the three-decade benchmark set by Casey. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 25 June 2022 The court rejected arguments that respect for precedent, a legal principle called stare decisis, should protect Roe from reconsideration a half-century after it was argued. Jess Bravin, WSJ, 24 June 2022 The court specifically went through all the factors of stare decisis in considering whether to overrule it, and the joint opinion of Justice Kennedy, Justice O’Connor, and Justice Souter, at great length went through those factors. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 24 June 2022 See More
Adam J. White, WSJ, 23 May 2022 During confirmation hearings and in past decisions, conservative Justices extoled the virtues of stare decisis—the legal principle of keeping prior rulings in place. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Although the Court indeed discarded the legal principle of stare decisis in both reversals (from Plessy to Brown and Roe to Dobbs), there is a critical difference between the two opinions. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 11 July 2022 And one person's stare decisis is another person's bad precedent. James Brown, USA TODAY, 26 June 2022 Weakening stare decisis creates profound legal instability. Sofia Lotto Persio, Quartz, 24 June 2022 The dissent is appealing to precedent, to stare decisis, and thus is understandably invested in defending the three-decade benchmark set by Casey. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 25 June 2022 The court rejected arguments that respect for precedent, a legal principle called stare decisis, should protect Roe from reconsideration a half-century after it was argued. Jess Bravin, WSJ, 24 June 2022 The court specifically went through all the factors of stare decisis in considering whether to overrule it, and the joint opinion of Justice Kennedy, Justice O’Connor, and Justice Souter, at great length went through those factors. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 24 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin, to stand by decided matters
First Known Use
1754, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
stare decisis
noun
sta·re de·ci·sis ˈster-ē-di-ˈsī-sis, ˈstär-ē-; ˈstä-rā-dā-ˈkē-sēs
: the doctrine under which courts adhere to precedent on questions of law in order to insure certainty, consistency, and stability in the administration of justice with departure from precedent permitted for compelling reasons (as to prevent the perpetuation of injustice)