judikatur

Judikatur refers to the body of judicial decisions and case law developed by courts in a legal system. It is distinct from legislation, which is law created by a legislative body. Judikatur encompasses the interpretations and applications of statutes and constitutional provisions made by judges as they resolve specific legal disputes. These decisions, particularly those from higher courts, can set precedents that guide future rulings in similar cases. The principle of stare decisis, or "to stand by things decided," is central to systems that rely heavily on judikatur, ensuring consistency and predictability in the law. In common law jurisdictions, judikatur plays a particularly significant role in shaping legal principles, often filling gaps where statutory law is silent or ambiguous. Conversely, in civil law systems, while judicial decisions are important, they traditionally hold less binding precedential authority compared to statutory codes. The evolution of judikatur is a continuous process, reflecting societal changes and evolving legal understanding through the resolution of actual cases. It provides a practical and dynamic dimension to the law, illustrating how legal rules operate in real-world situations.