What two conditions must be met for a judicial precedent to be binding?

Asked by: Prof. Dan Farrell  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.1/5 (71 votes)

Two facts are crucial to determining whether a precedent is binding: The position in the court hierarchy of the court which decided the precedent, relative to the position in the court trying the current case. Whether the facts of the current case come within the scope of the principle of law in previous decisions.

What is necessary for a precedent to be binding?

Binding precedent.

Precedent that a court must abide by in its adjudication of a case. For example, a lower court is bound by the decision of a higher court in the same jurisdiction, even if the lower court judge disagrees with the reasoning or outcome of that decision.

What are the two ways of operation in doctrine of judicial precedent?

There are two types of precedent: binding precedent and persuasive precedent. Binding precedent is found in the ratio decidendi of the case, or the 'reason for deciding'.

What are the elements of judicial precedent?

There are three essential elements to this system of precedent:
  • a court hierarchy.
  • binding precedent.
  • accurate law reporting.

How is a binding precedent established?

A prior case must meet two requirements to be considered binding precedent. ... The second requirement for a case to be considered binding precedent is that it must have been decided by the same court or a superior court within the hierarchy to which the court considering the case belongs.

AS Law Lecture: Judicial Precedent (1)

39 related questions found

What is binding in a judicial decision?

The decisions of the high court are binding on all subordinate courts. In case of a conflict between two benches of similar authority, the latter decision is to be followed. ... Article 141 of the constitution says that any law decided by the supreme court shall be binding on all courts of the country.

What makes a law binding?

Generally, to be legally valid, most contracts must contain two elements: All parties must agree about an offer made by one party and accepted by the other. Something of value must be exchanged for something else of value. This can include goods, cash, services, or a pledge to exchange these items.

What is doctrine of binding precedent of judicial precedent?

The doctrine of binding judicial precedent is one by which decisions of higher courts are required to be followed by courts which are lower in the hierarchy of the court structure.

Which courts can create binding precedent?

The highest court is the Supreme Court, followed by the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the County Court. The High Court, when not acting in an appellate capacity (from the County Court) and the County Court are known as Courts of first instance.

What are the two decisive factors that will determine the court's jurisdiction in a criminal dispute?

Answer to Question #175662 in Law for nokuthula tshabalala
  • the amount claimed and the geographical area.
  • the type of offense and the possible sentence.
  • the type of offense and the relief sought.
  • the type of offense and the amount claimed.

What is judicial precedent in Scots law?

Judicial precedent. Judicial precedent refers to the set of rules specifying when a court must have regard to, or consider, the decision of another court, and the circumstances in which the decision of that other court is binding.

What is judicial precedent in Ghana?

Judicial precedent is the source of law where past decisions create law for judges to refer back to for guidance in future cases. ... Within the court hierarchy, every court is bound to previous decisions made by courts higher than them.

What is judicial precedent in South Africa?

Courts are institutions that apply the law on daily basis. ... Previous judicial decisions therefore constitute law and the way in which the law was applied there is authoritative. The reason for this lies in the system of judicial precedent, also called the doctrine of stare decisis, which applies in South Africa.

What is binding and persuasive precedent?

There are two types of precedent: binding precedents and persuasive precedents. As the names suggest, a binding precedent obliges a court to follow its decision, while a persuasive precedent can influence or inform a decision but not compel or restrict it.

How can judges avoid binding precedent?

In comparison with the mechanism of overruling, which is rarely used, the main device for avoiding binding precedent is that of distinguishing the previous case as having different material facts and, therefore, as being not binding on the current case.

What are the principles under the doctrine of binding precedent in Malaysia?

Binding precedent relies on the legal principle of stare decisis. A stare decisis means to stand by things that have already been decided. It ensures certainty and consistency in the application of law. Existing binding precedents from past cases are applied in principle to new situations by analogy.

What do you understand by the term doctrine of binding judicial precedent explain with relevant examples and with current structure of Malaysian courts?

The doctrine of judicial precedent in Malaysia is based on stare decisis i.e. to stand by what has been decided. Technically means cases where the material facts are the same, a court must follow the prior decision of a higher court, and its own prior decisions and prior decision of a court of the same level.

When a court establishes a binding precedent the reason for its decision is referred as?

Ratio decidendi (Latin plural rationes decidendi) is a Latin phrase meaning "the reason" or "the rationale for the decision". The ratio decidendi is "the point in a case that determines the judgement" or "the principle that the case establishes".

What are binding agreements?

A “binding contract” is any agreement that's legally enforceable. That means if you sign a binding contract and don't fulfill your end of the bargain, the other party can take you to court. ... You can't make a contract for something illegal.

What is a condition required for a legally binding contract quizlet?

For a contract to be legally enforceable, it must have these elements: agreement ( which includes the offer and acceptance), capacity( or the competence of all involved parties), mutual assent, consideration, legal purpose, and the form required by law.

Why is precedent not completely binding?

DISADVANTAGES OF PRECEDENT

Uncertainty & Complexity; – the advantage of certainty can be lost if there are more than one judges sitting on a case forming more than one ratio decidendi. This makes it difficult and more complex to determine which ratio will bind future case of similar nature.

What does binding in law mean?

A binding promise, agreement, or decision must be obeyed or carried out.

Why is precedent so important in your research of the law?

The Importance of Precedent. In a common law system, judges are obliged to make their rulings as consistent as reasonably possible with previous judicial decisions on the same subject. ... Each case decided by a common law court becomes a precedent, or guideline, for subsequent decisions involving similar disputes.

How does the precedent system work?

This authority given to past judgments is called the doctrine of precedent. ... “The doctrine of precedent, which requires courts to follow the decisions of coordinate and higher courts in the judicial hierarchy, is an intrinsic feature of the rule of law, which is in turn foundational to our Constitution.

What is the main role of the judiciary authority in South Africa?

The Judiciary interprets the law of South Africa, using as the basis of its interpretation the laws enacted by the South African Parliament as well as explanatory statements made in the legislature during the enactment.