NALA Certified Paralegal Practice Exam

________ is the doctrine under which a court is obligated to follow the earlier decision of that court or higher courts within the same jurisdiction

1. Statutory law

2. The common law

3. Precedent

4. Stare decisis

The correct answer is: Stare decisis

Stare decisis is the doctrine under which a court is obligated to follow the earlier decision of that court or higher courts within the same jurisdiction. This principle promotes consistency and predictability in the legal system. Option A, statutory law, refers to laws created by legislatures, not court decisions. Option B, the common law, is a system of laws based on previous court decisions, but it does not specifically relate to following precedent. Option C, precedent, is a related term but it is just one aspect of the larger doctrine of stare decisis. It refers to a specific ruling that serves as an example or guide for future cases.