case law

noun

: law established by judicial decision in cases

Examples of case law in a Sentence

Case law says that a person has a right to privacy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tools that allow lawyers to conduct legal research more efficiently can help reduce the time spent sifting through case law. Raquel Gomes, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 But Geragos maintains case law involving a San Francisco district attorney from a few years ago means the incoming district attorney cannot pull back what the predecessor did on the resentencing motion. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024 Legal scholars have argued that, based on case law, the First Amendment protects how internet companies do search results, but Texas and Florida have sought to regulate the way that social media platforms moderate their content. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Sep. 2024 In the letter, Sproul cited First Amendment case law as protection of editorial judgments. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for case law 

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of case law was in 1731

Dictionary Entries Near case law

Cite this Entry

“Case law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/case%20law. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Legal Definition

case law

noun
: law established by judicial decisions in cases as distinguished from law created by legislation

called also decisional law

see also common law

More from Merriam-Webster on case law

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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