What does the legal principle "stare decisis" mean?

The principle of "stare decisis," which translates from Latin as "let the decision stand," is a fundamental doctrine in the legal system that underpins the importance of precedent in judicial decision-making. This principle dictates that courts are obligated to respect the precedential decisions made in previous cases when the same points of law arise in later cases.

By adhering to "stare decisis," it promotes consistency and stability in the law, ensuring that similar cases yield similar results, which helps maintain the rule of law and provides predictability for individuals and entities within the legal system. This means that once a court has established a legal principle through a decision, that principle should remain in effect for future cases unless there is a compelling reason to overturn or modify it.

The other options suggest actions contrary to the established legal framework. The idea of revisiting a decision, retrial, or disregard for rulings does not align with the foundational goal of maintaining consistency and reliability through the adherence to precedents, which "stare decisis" embodies.