Encyclopedia of Canadian Laws

Supreme Court Decisions

Supreme Court Decisions

Supreme Court of Canada: Effects of the Court's Decisions

Introduction to Supreme Court Decisions

A Supreme Court decision has a double impact. It determines the outcome for the specific litigants in the case. The parties are bound by the decision, since no further court of appeal exists. Perhaps more importantly, because the Supreme Court is the highest court in the country, its decisions stand as precedents. A precedent is an interpretation of the law by a higher court that lower courts are bound to follow in their own decisions. In future cases lawyers and judges will draw on the precedent of the Court's decision to help them make their arguments and judgments. In this way the decisions of the Supreme Court provide leadership, coherence, and unity to the other courts in the country.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

  • Information about Supreme Court Decisions in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia
  • Guide to Supreme Court Decisions