case law

American  

noun

1. law established by judicial decisions in particular cases, instead of by legislative action.

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case law British  

noun

1. law established by following judicial decisions given in earlier cases Compare statute law See also precedent

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Etymology

Origin of case law

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

case law

“I am not sure that today’s opinion will stand the test of time. The citizenship clause ‘added greatly to the dignity and glory of American citizenship,’ Thomas wrote, citing previous case law.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

And given case law about CEQA, he said the union has “a very plausible argument.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

"The outcome achieved is significant as the previous case law limited the ability of families and patients to challenge the legality of SAI reviews through the courts," she said.

From BBC ● May 20, 2026

While state laws govern how marriages are unwound, resolutions for unmarried couples often hinge on a court’s interpretation of case law, with varying outcomes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026

He wrote, “There is virtually no case law whatsoever in the entire United States that has addressed it. The technology is just too new.”

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel