Definitions for "Case law"
Law based on published judicial decisions.
Also known as common law. The law created by judges when deciding individual disputes or cases.
Law based on the entire collection of published legal decisions of the courts. These decisions contribute to a large part of the legal rules which apply in modern society. If a rule of law cannot be found in written laws it is a rule that can often be found in "case law". In other words, the rule is not in the statute books but can is principle of law, or precedent, established by a judge in some recorded case. The word jurisprudence has become synonymous for case law. See also "jurisprudence", "precedent", and "stare decisis".