Case law refers to which of the following?

• A. The rules of law announced in court decisions
• B. The statutes enacted by the legislature
• C. The opinions of citizens
• D. The administrative regulations issued by agencies

Answer: (A)

Case law is the body of rules of law announced in court decisions. It grows when judges decide cases and interpret statutes and constitutional provisions, creating precedents that guide how similar issues are resolved in the future. This is what makes case law distinct from statutes, which are laws written and enacted by the legislature, and from administrative regulations, which are rules issued by government agencies. It also isn’t the opinions of citizens. Case law fills gaps where statutes are silent or unclear and helps courts apply legal principles to new situations by relying on earlier judicial decisions. Over time, court-made rules evolve as higher courts decide new cases, shaping how rights are understood and how laws are enforced in criminal justice.