What is an example of a judge made law?

Asked by: Diego McDermott  |  Last update: December 20, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (9 votes)

One example of judge-made law is the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education. In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, even though there was no specific law that said so.

What does made law mean?

Made law is also known as positive law. It refers to laws that have been created and enacted by a government or other authority, as opposed to natural law or religious law. Made law is enforceable by the legal system and can be changed or repealed by the same authority that created it.

What does it mean to say that judges sometimes make law?

In writing opinions that will serve as precedent and in relying on precedent as a source of law, the Supreme Court functions as a common law court. The justices of the court who write these opinions are unquestionably engaged in making law, not merely in applying law.

What is another term for case law or judge made law?

Case law. The law as established in previous court decisions. A synonym for legal precedent. Akin to common law, which springs from tradition and judicial decisions.

How do judges apply the law?

They lead court proceedings, use established laws and guidance to determine sentencing, and rule on the constitutionality of various laws and legal precedents.

What is a Judge-Made Law?

37 related questions found

How do judges use case law?

Case law is the previous decision by judges forming principles for interpreting the law. These opinions help courts decide what to do in new cases. This is called legal precedent.

What is judicial lawmaking?

Judicial law-making provides a complement to legislative efforts in a democracy, protects individuals and groups denied real access to the political process, and usually is made cautiously and on the basis of relevant information.

What is referred to as judge-made law?

Definition: Judge-made law is the law that is established by judicial precedent rather than by statute. It is also the law that results when judges interpret statutes differently from what the lawmakers intended. This is also known as common law.

What is an example of a case law?

You are probably familiar with the Miranda warning, in which officers recite a person's "right to remain silent." The requirement that police must issue such a warning to a criminal suspect in custody before beginning an interrogation came from a the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Miranda v. Arizona in 1956.

What is a word for made laws?

To legislate is to make laws.

What is common judge made law?

Common law (also known as judicial precedent, judge-made law, or case law) is the body of law primarily developed through judicial decisions rather than statutes. Although common law may incorporate certain statutes, it is largely based on precedent—judicial rulings made in previous similar cases.

What do judges call lawyers in court?

counsel - Legal advice; a term used to refer to lawyers in a case. counterclaim - A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff. Counterclaims can often be brought within the same proceedings as the plaintiff's claims.

Can the Supreme Court overturn a law?

The complex role of the Supreme Court in this system derives from its authority to invalidate legislation or executive actions which, in the Court's considered judgment, conflict with the Constitution.

What happens after a law is made?

If a bill has passed in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and has been approved by the President, or if a presidential veto has been overridden, the bill becomes a law and is enforced by the government.

What is a common law example?

What is an example of common law? The concept of common-law marriage, which acknowledges similar rights as those that have a marriage license to couples that are not officially married if several conditions are met, is one example of common law in action today.

What is the word for made legal?

make legal (verb as in validate) Strongest matches. approve certify confirm corroborate endorse justify legalize legitimize ratify substantiate verify. Strong matches. authenticate authorize constitute okay sanction.

Is created from decisions made by judges?

Common law, also known as “case law”, is the body of law created by judges through written decisions rather than from statutes or constitutions.

What is the most famous court case?

These are the 7 famous Supreme Court cases that have defined a nation.
  • Marbury v. Madison.
  • Dred Scott v. Sandford.
  • Brown v. Board of Education.
  • Mapp v. Ohio.
  • Gideon v. Wainwright.
  • Miranda v. Arizona.
  • Roe v. Wade.

What is an example of a law?

One example of a law is the law requiring children to attend school. Another example of a law is the law that prohibits people from stealing. The government is the body that makes laws and enforces laws. This means that the government decides what the laws will be and makes sure that everyone follows them.

What is a law made by judges called?

Case Law. Case law is found in judges' opinions, which are explanations for why the judges decided the case the way they did. Judges write opinions after hearing a case. Case law is usually made by judges in the appellate courts rather than the trial courts.

What is another name for court made law?

Case law, also used interchangeably with common law, is a law that is based on precedents, that is the judicial decisions from previous cases, rather than law based on constitutions, statutes, or regulations. Case law uses the detailed facts of a legal case that have been resolved by courts or similar tribunals.

What is it called when a law is made?

The process of government by which bills are considered and laws enacted is commonly referred to as the Legislative Process. The California State Legislature is made up of two houses: the Senate and the Assembly.

Who makes judicial laws?

Federal laws, for example, are passed by Congress and signed by the President. The judicial branch, in turn, has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve other cases involving federal laws. But judges depend upon the executive branch to enforce court decisions.

What is an example of the rule of law?

The Rule of Law permeates all aspects of American life. For example, we have traffic laws that let us know who has the right of way and we have environmental laws and regulations that tell us what we are allowed to put into the ground, air and water.

What is the purpose of judicial law?

The judicial branch is in charge of deciding the meaning of laws, how to apply them to real situations, and whether a law breaks the rules of the Constitution. The Constitution is the highest law of our Nation. The U.S. Supreme Court, the highest court in the United States, is part of the judicial branch.