stare decisis

noun

sta·​re de·​ci·​sis ˌster-ē-di-ˈsī-səs 

ˌstär-

: a doctrine or policy of following rules or principles laid down in previous judicial decisions unless they contravene the ordinary principles of justice

Examples of stare decisis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Realistically, in other words, the Court will likely decide Catholic Charities based on the justices’ personal preferences, rather than by following the doctrine of stare decisis, which says that courts should typically follow their own precedents. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 24 Mar. 2025

Lawyers love to use Latin, and recently, the U.S. Tax Court relied on the notion of stare decisis to rule on a tax case (Mukhi) based on a prior case (Farhy). —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024

Of course, this Court’s Republican majority has shown little regard for stare decisis, at least in cases that divide along partisan lines. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

In the majority opinion, Chief Justice Roberts suggested that there was a form of stare decisis for rules that already had been upheld under the Chevron doctrine not to be relitigated. —Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, to stand by decided matters

First Known Use

1754, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stare decisis

• crisis
• lysis
• phthisis
• ecdysis
• haemoptysis
• hemoptysis

Legal Definition

stare decisis

noun

sta·​re de·​ci·​sis ˈster-ē-di-ˈsī-sis, ˈstär-ē-; ˈstä-rā-dā-ˈkē-sēs 

: the doctrine under which courts adhere to precedent on questions of law in order to insure certainty, consistency, and stability in the administration of justice with departure from precedent permitted for compelling reasons (as to prevent the perpetuation of injustice)

Etymology

New Latin, to stand by things that have been settled