A court decision is a judicial determination of parties’ rights and obligations reached by a judge or a jury on the basis of facts and law. A decision can also refer to the act of delivering a ruling or the text of the ruling itself. A decision often includes a summary of the facts, a discussion of relevant laws, the court’s reasoning of how the law applies to the issues at hand, and the court’s holding (or determination on the legal issues in the case). The decision may include an order and/or one or more opinions. A decision may affect (dispositively or nondispositively) more than one case.
A decision is one of the most important sources of law in our jurisprudence system. It provides a foundation for citizens to structure their day-to-day lives with realistic expectations about the justice system and their rights and duties. It also gives people confidence that society’s rules and laws will remain consistent over time. Despite these benefits, the doctrine of stare decisis (“to stand by things decided”) raises several questions. For example, should courts continue to follow a decision if it incorrectly interprets the Constitution?
The Supreme Court, which is the highest court in our judicial branch and is the ultimate arbiter of the law, makes decisions that profoundly impact American history and our daily lives. The decisions of the Supreme Court — whether to bestow rights or rescind them — can alter how laws are interpreted and even rewrite the societal status quo.