How can a court set a precedent and why is it important?
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There are levels of courts. There is a trial court where evidence is presented and ruling are made by a judge. Then there are usually a few levels of appellate courts. In law, decisions often come down to interpreting the law that’s written. For example, the term “due process” doesn’t really spell out what is required. So appellate courts will interpret the term. When a higher court interprets a term, that interpretation is precedent, which means that all lower courts have to follow it until a different interpretation comes out. The Supreme Court interprets the US Constitution, so it’s rulings become precedent for every other court in the US on those matters (until it changes it’s mind).
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