What principle binds courts to follow precedent unless there is a compelling reason to overturn?

• A. Mootness
• B. Stare decisis
• C. Standing
• D. Res judicata

Answer: (B)

Stare decisis is the principle that courts follow established precedent to keep the law predictable and stable. It binds courts to apply what earlier courts decided, unless there’s a compelling reason to overturn. A compelling reason can include recognizing that a prior ruling was seriously flawed, that the legal reasoning has become outdated, or that new facts, societal values, or constitutional interpretations call for a different result. A classic illustration is Brown v. Board of Education, which overruled the earlier Plessy v. Ferguson decision to reflect a changed understanding of equality and the Constitution.

Mootness, standing, and res judicata describe different concepts that don’t capture the idea of adhering to precedent unless a strong reason to depart is present. Mootness is about whether a case remains live; standing is about whether a party has the right to sue; res judicata bars relitigating claims that have been finally decided.