common law
Common Legal Terms
Law established by subject matter heard in earlier cases. Also called case law.
The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on court decisions rather than statutes passed by the legislature.
- — Justice 101 Legal Terms Glossary retrieved 2014-05-28
The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States that relies on the articulation of legal principles in a historical succession of judicial decisions. Common law principles can be changed by legislation.