oikeudenkäytännöissä

Oikeudenkäytännöissä refers to the body of case law or judicial precedent in Finnish legal systems. It encompasses the decisions made by courts in actual cases, which serve as guidance for future legal interpretations and applications. While Finnish law is primarily based on statutes, court decisions play a crucial role in clarifying ambiguities in legislation, developing legal principles, and adapting the law to new circumstances.

The highest courts, namely the Supreme Court (Korkein oikeus) and the Supreme Administrative Court (Korkein hallinto-oikeus), have a significant influence on oikeudenkäytännöissä. Their rulings are highly persuasive and are generally followed by lower courts. Decisions from appellate courts also contribute to the body of case law, although they carry less weight than those from the supreme courts.

Oikeudenkäytännöissä is not binding in the same way as common law precedent. Finnish courts are not strictly bound by previous decisions and can deviate from them if they find compelling reasons to do so. However, consistency and predictability in legal outcomes are valued, making adherence to established case law a common practice. Legal practitioners and scholars analyze and cite oikeudenkäytännöissä to understand how laws are interpreted and applied in practice. This body of jurisprudence evolves over time as new cases are decided and societal needs change.