Precedent

A Precedent is a previous case or legal decision that serves as a guide or justification for subsequent cases or decisions involving similar circumstances. It establishes a principle or rule that can be used as a model or authority for future actions. The importance of Precedent lies in promoting consistency, predictability, and fairness within a legal system and beyond. It helps to avoid arbitrary judgments by ensuring similar cases are treated similarly. Precedents can also evolve over time, being modified, overturned, or extended as societal values and legal understanding change, maintaining a dynamic legal landscape.

Precedent meaning with examples

• In the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court overturned the 'separate but equal' Precedent established in Plessy v. Ferguson. This overturned Precedent served as the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement. This new Precedent, which prohibited segregation in schools, had a profound impact on American society.
• During contract negotiations, the company referred to prior agreements with other unions, citing past salary increases and benefit packages as precedent. This historical information influenced the bargaining process, giving both sides a framework for their offers and counteroffers. This historical usage helped in the process by providing a guide.
• A research paper on the ethical implications of AI referenced numerous studies. It used the findings to create a new Precedent for the development of such things. This allowed them to discuss the implications of data privacy, algorithms, and the potential for bias in these systems.
• When deciding whether to introduce a new policy regarding employee working conditions, the HR department consulted past practices and established precedents to understand how similar policies had been received in the past. This helped create a framework on how to develop the policy.