A rule or principle of law, especially when established by precedent.

尤其由先例形成的法律的原理、规则。

youdao

The relevant highest court, state or federal, may, depending on the subject matter of the case, depart from (over-rule) a previous precedent established by it and thereby create new law.

相关的高级法院， 国家或者联邦， 可以，取决于主要内容那儿的那些案件的，离开（越过规章） 以前先例以天气建立而且因此创造新法律。

youdao

Today, in upholding the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court has shown that, even at a time when Washington seems to have reached a new level of dysfunction, there remains a respect for the rule of law, for precedent, and for the ability of Congress to legislate on matters that affect the American people.

FORBES: The Power of Framing: ObamaCare Individual Mandate Upheld as a Tax

The court applied relevant Seventh Circuit precedent (with heavy reliance on the Sixth Circuit) as well as Federal Rule of Evidence 502, which establishes when the disclosure of privileged information results in waiver.

FORBES: Privilege Waived? Federal Court Says Don't Blame Your Electronic Discovery Vendor