adhere to precedent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adhere to precedent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts or discussions about following established rules or decisions. Example: "In this case, the court must adhere to precedent to ensure consistency in the application of the law."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But you can't say it doesn't adhere to precedent.

The Economist

The Supreme Court ought to show judicial restraint, adhere to precedent and uphold the constitutionality of health care reform.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Are you suggesting there's kind of a second-class sovereignty and a first-class sovereignty?" None of these questions have easy answers, and Landau fought hard to get the Supreme Court to see things Puerto Rico's way and adhere to precedents that favor it.

Huffington Post

If politics adheres to precedent, it follows that an outcome almost without precedent cannot happen.

The Economist

Justice Breyer's position, not that of Justices Kennedy and Scalia, has greater claim to being "fair and balanced," while Justice Sotomayor more closely adheres to precedent.

Huffington Post

On that occasion, three justices, all appointed by Republican presidents, wrote an unusual joint opinion to explain why they had decided to adhere to a precedent that, as an original matter, they might well not have joined.

The New York Times

FROM THE DISSENT By Justice Thomas In the process of ratifying Missouri's sweeping repression of political speech, the court today adopts the analytic fallacies of our flawed decision in Buckley v. Valeo.... Unfortunately, the court is not content to merely adhere to erroneous precedent.

The New York Times

"Bonuses would in no way change this and strictly adhere to this precedent".

Huffington Post

He held that judges should adhere closely to precedent, disregarding their own opinions, and decide only "whether legislators could in reason have enacted such a law".

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Court should adhere to firmly established precedent and uphold the aggregate contribution limit.    .

Huffington Post

Although arbitrators try to be as consistent as possible and must explain when they stray from previous decisions, Rivkin said, adhering to legal precedent is not a requirement.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal and academic writing, use "adhere to precedent" to show that a legal decision or argument is based on established legal principles and previous court rulings.

Common error

Don't assume that every past ruling is binding precedent. Understand the specific jurisdiction and factual similarity required for a precedent to be applicable. Failure to properly discern binding precedent can lead to flawed legal arguments.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adhere to precedent" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of following or maintaining established legal principles or prior court decisions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable and accurate. The examples show its use in legal and political contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "adhere to precedent" is a phrase used to describe the act of following established legal principles. Ludwig AI considers it correct and usable, though its frequency is rare. It's most common in legal and political contexts, conveying a commitment to consistency in legal rulings. When writing, ensure the precedent is applicable to the current situation to avoid errors, and consider alternatives like "follow established guidelines" or "uphold prior rulings" for broader application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Maintain consistency with past decisions

Stresses the importance of ensuring uniformity in current and past judgments.

Uphold prior rulings

Focuses on maintaining and supporting previous legal decisions or judgments.

Give deference to prior decisions

Implies showing respect and consideration to earlier rulings.

Respect existing case law

Highlights the importance of acknowledging and valuing previous court decisions.

Abide by previous judgments

Implies a sense of obligation to comply with former legal verdicts.

Follow established guidelines

Emphasizes the act of following a set of rules or recommendations, rather than specifically legal decisions.

Observe settled principles

Highlights the act of noticing and adhering to well-established fundamental rules.

Take guidance from existing precedents

Suggests using previous cases as a source of direction and understanding.

Comply with established norms

Broadens the scope to include general standards and customs, not exclusively legal ones.

Keep in line with established practice

Focuses on aligning actions with customary or routine procedures.

FAQs

How to use "adhere to precedent" in a sentence?

You can use "adhere to precedent" to indicate that a court or legal professional is following previous rulings or established legal principles. For example: "The judge decided to "adhere to precedent" set in similar cases."

What does it mean to "adhere to precedent" in law?

In a legal context, to "adhere to precedent" means that a court is following the principles or rules established in previous similar cases when making a current decision. It ensures consistency and predictability in the application of the law.

What are some alternatives to saying "adhere to precedent"?

You can use alternatives such as "follow established guidelines", "uphold prior rulings", or "respect existing case law" depending on the specific context.

Why is it important for courts to "adhere to precedent"?

Adhering to precedent promotes fairness, consistency, and predictability in the legal system. It ensures that similar cases are treated similarly, reducing the risk of arbitrary or biased decisions. Also, it allows lawyers to correctly inform and advice their customers. However, sometimes it's important to "overturn precedent" when the old decision becomes outdated, unfair, or unconstitutional.