Things are busy at Dewey, Earn, and Howe. Willy Understand has a new research assignment and, as his mentor, he needs your help again. You explain to him that the doctrine of stare decisis (“it has been decided”) means that courts are obligated to rely upon precedent when deciding similar cases. Black’s Law Dictionary defines precedent as “a rule of law established for the first time by a court for a particular type of case and thereafter referred to in deciding similar cases” (Garner, 1999). This is an important element in the American judicial system because it helps establish consistency in court rulings and decisions. Consistency helps people know what to expect from the court in future cases. ALL Supreme Court cases set precedent so you know you will be reading and researching Supreme Court precedents.
As an example for Willy, you are going to write a 300-500 word paper that covers the following:
From any of the three links provided below (Supreme Court Landmarks links), choose a Supreme Court case. Write a summary of the facts (in your own words) of the case and the new precedent that the court sets forth (again, USE YOUR OWN WORDS).
Explain which courts (federal and state) are obligated to follow the new rule or rules and why.
Explain whether you agree with the precedent and if you think it has had a positive (or negative) impact on society.