The doctrine of stare decisis
A) means to reverse the decision of a lower court.
B) says that the court does not have jurisdiction in a case.
C) allows the court to refer a case to the next highest court.
D) is the policy of following precedent established by past decisions to decide cases.
E) means strict interpretation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The doctrine of stare decisis means to follow precedent established by past decisions to decide current cases. It is the policy of the court to stick to previous rulings unless there is a compelling reason to overturn them. Option A is incorrect because stare decisis is the opposite of reversing a lower court decision. Option B is incorrect because jurisdiction refers to the court's authority to hear a case. Option C is incorrect because there are specific rules for when a court can refer a case to a higher court, and it is not related to the doctrine of stare decisis. Option E is incorrect because strict interpretation is a legal approach that emphasizes the precise wording of laws or the constitution, and it is not directly related to the principle of stare decisis.

The Doctrine of Stare Decisis