Laws created by a branch of the government or government body acting in its lawmaking capacity are primary legal authority. Legislation is enacted to govern future situations. If no legislation applies, courts develop and apply a judge-made rule of law. Anything other than primary authority that a court could use as a basis for decision. This does not have the force of law.
Secondary authority can never be more than persuasive authority.
Restatements of the Law Dictionaries 3. Weight of Authority Weight of authority is determined by its jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of the fact situation. It also works in a hierarchy. E.g. a trial court opinion isn't mandatory to an appellate court in the same jurisdiction, but it would work the other way around if facts are similar enough. Examples of primary authority that are not mandatory are court opinions or statutes that come from outside the jurisdiction.