Which legal principle is defined as previous cases influencing future judgments?

The principle of legal precedent refers to the practice of using past judicial decisions to guide and influence the outcomes of current and future cases. When courts encounter a legal issue, they often look to previous rulings that have addressed similar facts or legal questions. This practice underpins the doctrine of stare decisis, which means that courts should uphold established decisions unless there is a strong reason to overturn them. The reliance on legal precedent ensures consistency and predictability in the law, allowing individuals and entities to understand their rights and obligations based on prior rulings.

The other options represent different concepts in law: jurisprudence relates to the theory and philosophy of law, statutory interpretation focuses on how laws passed by legislatures are understood and applied, and common practice generally refers to widely accepted practices that may not have legal standing or enforceability.