The principle of "stare decisis," meaning "to stand by things decided," dictates that courts should follow the decisions of previous cases when deciding similar cases. This ensures consistency, predictability, and fairness in the legal system by preventing arbitrary rulings.

The rule of stare decisis means that courts should follow past decisions when making rulings in new cases that are similar. This helps keep the law fair and consistent, so people know what to expect. It also saves time because judges don’t have to start from scratch every time. Lower courts must follow the decisions of higher courts, which keeps the legal system organized.