What doctrine refers to courts standing by a precedent and applying it to future cases?

The concept of courts adhering to precedent and applying it to future cases is known as stare decisis. This principle ensures consistency and predictability in the law by requiring that courts follow established legal precedents when making decisions on similar cases. By doing so, stare decisis fosters stability within the legal system, allowing individuals and entities to have confidence in the outcomes of legal disputes based on prior judgments.

In contrast, res judicata pertains to the finality of judgments, preventing the same issue from being litigated again once it has been decided. Judicial review refers to the power of courts to assess whether legislative acts or executive actions are consistent with the constitution. Legal precedent is a broader term that encompasses the decisions made in previous cases, but it is stare decisis that specifically addresses the duty of courts to follow those precedents in future cases.