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

There have been a number of situations where lawyers were sanctioned for using AI when, for example, AI makes up case law which does not exist and a lawyer cites to it. —Wendy Hickey, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026

Coyle said there’s not much case law on whether old environmental reviews are grandfathered out of the requirements of newer state laws surrounding consulting with tribes. —Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026

Musk’s lawyers cited several Delaware Supreme Court case laws that protect against judge bias in cases and when judges are obliged to recuse themselves. —Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026

Senior Deputy District Attorney Dave Porter cited case law that a verdict cannot be overturned by a juror’s second thoughts on a case. —City News Service, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for case law

• allantois
• baccarat
• chickasaw
• mackinaw
• overawe
• oversaw
• quebecois
• yojana
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw

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