n. The doctrine or principle that precedent should determine legal decision making in a case involving similar facts. [Latin stāre dēcīsīs (et nōn quiēta movēre), to stand by things decided (and not to move things at rest), stāre, to stand, dēcīsīs, ablative neuter pl. of dēcīsus, past participle of dēcīdere, to decide; see DECIDE.] |
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