judicial precedent; leading case; prior case
Legal term for a court decision that serves as an authoritative example for future similar cases. Used in legal writing, news, and formal discussion.
Supreme Court precedents bind lower courts.
この判例は後の同種の事件に大きな影響を与えた。
This precedent had a major impact on later similar cases.
This ruling is based on a past precedent.
The Supreme Court established an important precedent in this area.
Lower courts follow the precedents set by higher courts.
The lawyer cited a favorable precedent to support his argument.