Jurisprudence Commons^™

Stare Decisis As Judicial Doctrine, Randy J. Kozel

Washington and Lee Law Review

Stare decisis has been called many things, among them "~a principle of policy, " "a series ofprudential and pragmatic considerations, " and simply "the preferred course. " Often overlooked is the fact that stare decisis is also a judicial doctrine, an analytical system used to guide the rules of decision for resolving concrete disputes that come before the courts. This Article examines stare decisis as applied by the U.S. Supreme Cour~, our nation 's highest doctrinal authority. A review of the Court 'sjurisprudence yields two principal lessons about the modern doctrine of stare decisis. First, the doctrine is comprised largely …