Which description best fits case law?

• A. It is unwritten and based on precedents
• B. It is statutes enacted by the legislature
• C. It refers to administrative regulations
• D. It is established by written decisions of judges in court cases

Answer: (D)

Case law is the body of law created by courts through their decisions. Courts issue written opinions that interpret statutes, resolve disputes, and establish legal principles. Those written decisions become precedents that guide future rulings, shaping how laws are applied in similar situations. That makes the description describing case law as established by written decisions of judges in court cases the most accurate.

The other descriptions miss an essential aspect. Statutes enacted by the legislature are statutory law, not case law. Administrative regulations come from agencies and are regulatory in nature, not case law. And while some historical tradition of case law relies on precedent, it is the written judicial opinions that formally establish the rules.