When a Supreme Court decision serves as a precedent, it means that the ruling establishes a legal principle or rule that must be followed in future cases with similar facts or issues. This principle guides lower courts and influences the interpretation of law, ensuring consistency and stability in the judicial system. Precedent can be binding, meaning it must be adhered to, or persuasive, meaning it can influence but isn't required to be followed. Over time, precedents can evolve or be overturned by subsequent decisions.
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