What is case law?

What is case law?

• A. The statutes enacted by the legislature.
• B. Administrative regulations issued by agencies.
• C. The body of law formed by the decisions of the court system based on constitutional provisions.
• D. Common law arising from customs.

Answer: (C)

Case law is the body of law formed by the decisions of the court system. When judges decide disputes, their written opinions explain how the law applies to the facts and often interpret constitutional provisions, along with statutes and prior rulings. Those interpretations become binding rules for future cases in the same jurisdiction through stare decisis, shaping how laws are applied even without new legislation or agency rules. This is different from statutes created by the legislature or regulations issued by agencies, and while common law stemming from customs laid the groundwork, case law today centers on judicial decisions that interpret and apply the law. In this sense, it best describes the body of law formed by the court system’s decisions based on constitutional provisions.

Case law is the body of law formed by the decisions of the court system. When judges decide disputes, their written opinions explain how the law applies to the facts and often interpret constitutional provisions, along with statutes and prior rulings. Those interpretations become binding rules for future cases in the same jurisdiction through stare decisis, shaping how laws are applied even without new legislation or agency rules. This is different from statutes created by the legislature or regulations issued by agencies, and while common law stemming from customs laid the groundwork, case law today centers on judicial decisions that interpret and apply the law. In this sense, it best describes the body of law formed by the court system’s decisions based on constitutional provisions.