众所周知,遵循先例原则源自拉丁文的stare decisis,意为“遵照已决之事项”(to stand bythings decided)。该原则久已成为英国普通法的重要组成部分,着重强调先前法院的判决必须被作为先例对待。而新教徒在移植普通法其他制度的同时也将该原则引进到了北美大陆。在美国,遵循先 It is well-known that the principle of precedent follows from the Latin stare decisis, meaning “to stand bythings decided.” This principle has long been an important part of common law in the United Kingdom, stressing that prior court judgments must be treated as precedents. Protestants, while transplanting other common law systems, introduced the principle to the North American continent. In America, follow first