The “law of the case” is a legal term referring to the principles which have already been established as established the facts, law, or decisional reasoning in a case. This guiding doctrine helps ensure that the facts, law, and decisional reasoning of a court’s ruling is respected and followed in later proceedings relating to the case. In other words, it is a legal principle which guides the courts’ decisions in any case in which the outcome is based on precedent.
To illustrate, consider a hypothetical situation in which a worker was wrongfully terminated and brought a lawsuit against his former employer. During trial, the judge found that the employer was liable for wrongful termination and awarded the worker the appropriate damages. This ruling establishes the law of the case – it sets d the precedent that wrongful termination is illegal, and that damages are to be awarded to the employee for such an occurrence. Later, in any other case brought against the employer for similar types of wrongfully termination, the court is bound to follow the established law and can only deviate if there is new evidence that has not been entertained by the court in the prior proceedings.
The Authority of the Law of the Case in the Legal System
The law of the case is a powerful tool in maintaining stability, consistency and adherence to precedent in the legal system. With it, the judicial system is better equipped to render judgment in a fair and impartial manner and improve the credibility of the legal system. Court proceedings that have occurred in the past serve as binding authorities for this principle, and therefore form the basis for future proceedings relating to the same legal issue.
In conclusion, the law of the case is an integral part of the judicial system which has been established to ensure consistent, fair rulings. It binds courts to established precedents, allowing them to stay true to the established facts, law, and decisional reasoning provided throughout the case.