Stability vs. correction
The doctrine balances predictable law against fixing decisions a current court believes were wrongly decided.
In plain English
Stare decisis — "to stand by things decided" — means courts usually stick with what they ruled before, so the law stays predictable.
Example
In Dobbs v. Jackson (2022), the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, holding that stare decisis did not require keeping the precedent.
Why it matters
What the term actually changes.
Court legitimacy
How readily a court overturns precedent shapes public perception of whether law follows principle or politics.
How it works
The mechanics, in practice.
Binding precedent
Lower courts must follow higher-court rulings; the Supreme Court generally follows its own.
Overruling factors
Courts weigh whether a precedent is workable, deeply relied upon, and consistent with related rulings before discarding it.
Related guide
What is judicial review?
Judicial review is the power American courts use to decide whether a law or government action violates the Constitution.
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