Which of the following limits a judge's decision-making authority?

Which of the following limits a judge's decision-making authority?

• A. Judicial review
• B. Judicial activism
• C. Stare decisis
• D. Life tenure

Answer: (C)

Stare decisis binds judges to follow established precedents in similar cases, which limits their decision-making by enforcing consistency with earlier rulings. When a court has set a rule or interpretation in the past, later judges are expected to apply that rule to new cases with like facts unless there’s a strong reason to overturn it. This creates predictability and stability in the law, so decisions aren’t made case by case in isolation. Judicial review is the power to assess the constitutionality of laws and government actions, which shapes outcomes but isn’t the binding constraint on daily rulings. Judicial activism describes an approach that favors broad or flexible interpretations to achieve policy aims, rather than a formal limit. Life tenure refers to how long a judge serves, which can affect independence but doesn’t inherently cap how judges apply legal doctrine to cases.

Stare decisis binds judges to follow established precedents in similar cases, which limits their decision-making by enforcing consistency with earlier rulings. When a court has set a rule or interpretation in the past, later judges are expected to apply that rule to new cases with like facts unless there’s a strong reason to overturn it. This creates predictability and stability in the law, so decisions aren’t made case by case in isolation.

Judicial review is the power to assess the constitutionality of laws and government actions, which shapes outcomes but isn’t the binding constraint on daily rulings. Judicial activism describes an approach that favors broad or flexible interpretations to achieve policy aims, rather than a formal limit. Life tenure refers to how long a judge serves, which can affect independence but doesn’t inherently cap how judges apply legal doctrine to cases.