The Court Hierarchy as a Feature of Judicial Precedent

Question 1

1. It is essential for the operation of judicial precedent to have a rigid court hierarchy so that judges…

Answer 1

It is essential for the operation of judicial precedent to have a rigid court hierarchy so that judges know which decisions are binding and so must be followed, and which decisions are not binding and so can be overruled.

Question 2

2. APPELLATE COURTS only hear appeals…

Answer 2

APPELLATE COURTS only hear appeals, and are more important than courts of first instance when creating precedent.