Common-law doctrine under which past decisions of a court are cited as an authority to decide a substantially similar current case. Under the English legal maxim of stare decisis (Latin for, to stand by things decided) the previous decisions (precedents) of an appellate court are binding on the same and lower courts within its jurisdiction. Thus, if the facts and issue of a dispute before the ... Read more

USAGE EXAMPLE

Unfortunately, the company's first chief executive set a bad precedent for his successors by embezzling funds, abusing employees, and crashing his company car.