What does the doctrine of stare decisis refer to?

The doctrine of stare decisis is a foundational principle in the legal system that emphasizes the importance of adhering to established precedents when making judicial decisions. This principle encourages courts to follow the rulings of previous cases that are similar in facts and legal issues. By doing so, it promotes consistency, stability, and predictability in the law, allowing individuals and entities to have a clear understanding of their rights and obligations based on prior judicial decisions.

When a court applies stare decisis, it looks at past judicial rulings (precedents) and uses them as a guide to resolve current cases with similar circumstances. This not only helps maintain a coherent system of law but also ensures that cases are decided fairly and impartially. The reliance on precedent also helps in limiting the arbitrary interpretation of laws by judges, thus fostering a more orderly legal process.

In contrast, the other options refer to different legal concepts. The principle of legal interpretation (the first option) deals with how judges understand and apply the law, which does not specifically denote adhering to precedent. The process of appealing court decisions (the second option) involves challenging decisions in higher courts, which relates to judicial review rather than the operational concept of using precedent. Lastly, the establishment of new laws by judicial authority (