Which of the following is a strength of the doctrine of precedent?

Which of the following is a strength of the doctrine of precedent?

• A. Ensures consistency and predictability
• B. Parliament is the supreme law making body
• C. Courts are reactive
• D. High costs deter people from pursuing their rights

Answer: (A)

The strength of precedent lies in providing consistency and predictability. When a higher court decides a case, the reason for its decision (the rule it establishes) binds future cases with similar facts within the same court system. This means people can anticipate how courts will apply the law in comparable situations and expect similar outcomes, which promotes fairness and confidence in the legal system. The other statements point to different ideas: Parliament’s role as the supreme law maker is about where law comes from, not how past decisions guide future cases; courts being reactive describes a tendency rather than a benefit of precedent; and high costs deterring rights is an issue of access to justice, not a strength of precedent.

The strength of precedent lies in providing consistency and predictability. When a higher court decides a case, the reason for its decision (the rule it establishes) binds future cases with similar facts within the same court system. This means people can anticipate how courts will apply the law in comparable situations and expect similar outcomes, which promotes fairness and confidence in the legal system. The other statements point to different ideas: Parliament’s role as the supreme law maker is about where law comes from, not how past decisions guide future cases; courts being reactive describes a tendency rather than a benefit of precedent; and high costs deterring rights is an issue of access to justice, not a strength of precedent.