stare decisis

noun

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

, ˌstär- \

Definition of stare decisis

: 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 Precedent, or stare decisis, is fundamental to our constitutional system. — Adam J. White, WSJ, 23 May 2022 During confirmation hearings and in past decisions, conservative Justices extoled the virtues of stare decisis—the legal principle of keeping prior rulings in place. — Robert Pearl, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Although the Court indeed discarded the legal principle of stare decisis in both reversals (from Plessy to Brown and Roe to Dobbs), there is a critical difference between the two opinions. — Robert Pearl, Forbes, 11 July 2022 And one person's stare decisis is another person's bad precedent. — James Brown, USA TODAY, 26 June 2022 Weakening stare decisis creates profound legal instability. — Sofia Lotto Persio, Quartz, 24 June 2022 The dissent is appealing to precedent, to stare decisis, and thus is understandably invested in defending the three-decade benchmark set by Casey. — Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 25 June 2022 The court rejected arguments that respect for precedent, a legal principle called stare decisis, should protect Roe from reconsideration a half-century after it was argued. — Jess Bravin, WSJ, 24 June 2022 The court specifically went through all the factors of stare decisis in considering whether to overrule it, and the joint opinion of Justice Kennedy, Justice O’Connor, and Justice Souter, at great length went through those factors. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 24 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stare decisis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster

Dictionary Entries Near stare decisis

stare at (someone)

stare decisis

stare down

Statistics for stare decisis

Last Updated

21 Sep 2022

Cite this Entry

“Stare decisis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stare%20decisis. Accessed 3 Nov. 2022.

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More Definitions for stare decisis

stare decisis

noun

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

Legal Definition of stare decisis

: 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)