Stare decisis requires courts to do what?

• A. Stare decisis requires courts to ignore prior precedents.
• B. Stare decisis requires courts to distinguish all prior precedents.
• C. Stare decisis requires courts to follow all prior precedents without exception.
• D. Stare decisis requires courts to follow binding precedents in the jurisdiction, applying or distinguishing them as appropriate.

Answer: (D)

Stare decisis means courts stand by decided cases, using them to decide new disputes. The point is that courts must follow binding precedents in their jurisdiction, applying the rule from those precedents to the current case or distinguishing it if the facts are sufficiently different. This ensures consistency and predictability—similar cases should yield similar results. Courts aren’t required to follow every old decision blindly, only those that are binding; they may consider persuasive authorities and overrule a rule only when a higher authority says so or the facts warrant a distinction.