a judicial precedent is a judgment or decision of a court of law cited as an authority for deciding a similar state of facts in the same manner, or on the same principle, or by analogy. The rules of common law and equity are contained in precedents established by the courts, that is, they have to be arrived at by ascertaining the principle on which those cases were decided., kohtulahenditega loodav õigus (näiteks Anglo-Ameerika õigussüsteemi maades, aga ka Euroopa Inimõiguste Kohtu otsusega loodav õigus)