You may have heard of case law, but what does the term actually mean?

Case law refers to legal principles developed through judicial decisions. As opposed to laws contained in statutes and enacted by the legislative process, case law comes about through the aggregation of court opinions interpreting and applying the law to individual cases. In the U.S. legal system, the rulings of higher courts are binding on lower courts. Courts also adhere to stare decisis, which generally requires that courts follow the precedent set by previous court decisions.

What does case law do? Here are a few important examples:

You can find key decisions from both state and federal courts, as well as state and federal statutes, constitutions, and more at FindLaw’s Cases and Codes.

Related Resources:

  • How Does the U.S. Supreme Court Work? (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
  • Supreme Court Calendar: 10 Cases to Watch in January (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
  • SCOTUS on Ala. Gay Marriage: A Signal of What’s to Come? (FindLaw’s U.S. Supreme Court Blog)
  • Federal Court Overturns Calif.’s Foie Gras Ban (FindLaw’s California Case Law Blog)

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