Precedent

Precedent is like having a rulebook for grownups. Think of it like when you play a game with your friends and you make rules for how the game should be played. Once you agree on those rules, you have to follow them every time you play the game. That's a precedent!

In the grownup world, judges or courts make rules for how to deal with different types of problems or situations. These rules are called "precedents". When a judge makes a decision about a certain case, they set a precedent for how similar cases should be handled in the future.

For example, imagine someone was in a car crash where the other driver didn't stop when they were supposed to at a stop sign. The judge might decide that the driver who didn't stop is responsible for the crash because they broke a law. This decision would set a precedent that if someone doesn't stop at a stop sign and causes a crash, they are responsible for it.

So next time a similar case comes up, judges will use this precedent and say "Well, last time this happened, the judge said the person who didn't stop at the stop sign was responsible, so we will make the same decision."

Using precedent helps keep the justice system fair and consistent, and makes sure that cases are decided based on what happened in the past and not just on what someone thinks is right.