Which term refers to laws created by judges through court decisions and precedents?

Which term refers to laws created by judges through court decisions and precedents?

• A. Common Law
• B. Statutory Law
• C. Administrative Law
• D. Criminal Law

Answer: (A)

Common law refers to laws created by judges through court decisions and the precedents they establish. It develops as courts decide cases and apply rules to the facts, with those rulings guiding future cases through the doctrine of stare decisis. This is different from statutory law, which consists of written laws enacted by legislatures, and administrative law, which comes from regulatory rules created by government agencies. While criminal law can be shaped by both statutory and common-law traditions, the description in this question specifically points to common law.

Common law refers to laws created by judges through court decisions and the precedents they establish. It develops as courts decide cases and apply rules to the facts, with those rulings guiding future cases through the doctrine of stare decisis. This is different from statutory law, which consists of written laws enacted by legislatures, and administrative law, which comes from regulatory rules created by government agencies. While criminal law can be shaped by both statutory and common-law traditions, the description in this question specifically points to common law.