original: in common law legal systems , a precedent or authority is a legal case establishing a principle or rule that a court or other judicial body utilizes when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts .
simplifications: in common law legal systems , a precedent or authority is a legal case establishing a principle or rule that a court or other judicial body utilizes when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts . in common law a precedent or authority is a case that a court or other judicial system uses that is close in issues or facts . in common law legal systems , a precedent or authority is a legal case that sets a principle or rule that a court or other judicial body can use when deciding future cases with similar issues or facts legal systems using common law begin a legal case with a precedent or authority . this previously established legal principle or rule allows the court utilization of past decisions when deciding similar issues or facts in subsequent cases . in common law legal systems , a precedent or authority is a legal case establishing a principle or rule that a court or other judicial body uses when deciding other cases with similar issues or facts . in common law legal systems , a precedent or authority is a legal case setting a principle or rule that a court or other judicial body uses when deciding later cases with similar issues or facts . in common law legal systems a precedent or authority is a legal case starting a rule that the legal system uses when deciding on similar future cases . in common law legal systems , a precedent or authority is a legal case creating a rule that a court or other judicial body uses when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts .