caselaw

noun

UK /ˈkeɪs lɔː/

US /ˈkeɪs lɔː/

Caselaw is the collection of past court decisions that judges use to help decide new cases.

The lawyer studied caselaw to find a similar case that could help her client.

SYNONYMS

case law judicial precedent court precedent legal precedent decisional law

RELATED WORDS

precedent statute common law jurisprudence court ruling

OTHER MEANINGS

2. The body of law created by judges through their written opinions rather than by laws passed by a legislature.

Much of contract law in England is based on caselaw developed over centuries.

3. A specific collection of court decisions on a particular topic.

The textbook includes a chapter on caselaw about freedom of speech.

4. The legal principles that come from the outcomes of previous trials and appeals.

Attorneys must check the latest caselaw before arguing a motion in court.