Certified Legal Assistant Certified Paralegal (CLA-CP) Practice Test 2026 - Free Paralegal Practice Questions and Study Guide

The legal principle that requires courts to follow historical cases when making a ruling is known as "stare decisis." This term translates from Latin to "to stand by things decided." It embodies the idea that once a court has established a legal rule, other similar cases should be decided in the same manner to ensure consistency and predictability in the law. Stare decisis is essential to the legal system because it promotes stability in judicial decision-making, allowing individuals and organizations to have a clearer understanding of how the law will be applied in future cases.

Other options mentioned, like precedent, are closely related concepts but don't entirely encapsulate the principle itself in the way that stare decisis does. Precedent refers to the specific cases that serve as examples or rules for future cases and is a component of the broader principle outlined by stare decisis. Statutory law refers to laws created by legislative bodies, while common law refers to law developed through court decisions and judicial interpretations rather than through legislative statutes. Although these concepts are relevant within the legal framework, none fully capture the specific principle of adhering to established case law as effectively as stare decisis does.