legal doctrine
Court-applied principle
A legal doctrine is a principle or body of principles established through court decisions that guides how laws are interpreted and applied.
Doctrines emerge from judicial reasoning rather than legislation: The doctrine of precedent requires courts to follow earlier rulings.
Some doctrines become foundational—like reasonable doubt in criminal law or fair use in copyright.
Lawyers invoke doctrine when arguing how established principles should govern new cases.
Prior authoritative example
- mens reaBlameworthy mental state
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- equal protectionUniform legal treatment
- double jeopardyBan on repeated prosecution
habeas corpus · sovereign immunity · separation of powers · judicial review · standing · ripeness · mootness · preemption
Prior ruling courts must follow
- case lawJudge-made legal doctrine
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
- dictaAuthoritative statements
- landmark decisionLegally significant court judgment
overruling · distinguishing · affirming · reversing · remanding · jurisdiction
Actionable civil harm
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- estoppelBar against contradicting oneself
- waiverFormal surrender of rights
ratification · equity · injunction · damages · remedy · reasonable person · foreseeability · duty of care
Inherent moral principles
- formalismPrivileging structure over substance
- HartEnglish-origin family name
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
Interpreting by founding-era meaning
- textualismInterpreting law literally
- plain meaningDirect, straightforward interpretation
- judicial activismBroad court interpretation philosophy
- judicial restraintCourts avoiding activist rulings
precedent
Prior authoritative example
- mens reaBlameworthy mental state
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- equal protectionUniform legal treatment
double jeopardy · habeas corpus · sovereign immunity · separation of powers · judicial review · standing · ripeness · mootness · preemption · federalism
binding precedent
Prior ruling courts must follow
- case lawJudge-made legal doctrine
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
- dictaAuthoritative statements
landmark decision · overruling · distinguishing · affirming · reversing · remanding · jurisdiction
tort
Actionable civil harm
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- estoppelBar against contradicting oneself
waiver · ratification · equity · injunction · damages · remedy · reasonable person · foreseeability · duty of care · breach
natural law
Inherent moral principles
- formalismPrivileging structure over substance
- HartEnglish-origin family name
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
originalism
Interpreting by founding-era meaning
- textualismInterpreting law literally
- plain meaningDirect, straightforward interpretation
- judicial activismBroad court interpretation philosophy
- Roman LawRoman law, Corpus Juris Civilis, Justinian Code, Twelve Tables, Digest
- lawlaw, lawyer, lawyers, attorney, attorneys
- lawslaws, statute, ordinance, acts, statutes
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- legal analysiscase law, precedent, statute, burden of proof, reasonable doubt
- legal fieldscivil law, criminal law, administrative law, common law, civil procedure
legal doctrinestatute
Enacted written rule
legislation · statutory law · ordinance · executive order · treaty
legal doctrinedicta
Authoritative statements
legal opinion · advisory opinion · rule of thumb · judicial discretion · best practice
legal doctrinemoral principle
Rule of right conduct
religious law · ethical code · natural law · social norm · moral philosophy
legal, illegal, doctrine, legalize, legally, legislation, legality, legislator, legislate