Legal Definitions - droit common

Definition: Common law is a body of law that comes from court decisions, rather than from written laws. It is based on the idea that similar cases should be decided in a similar way. For example, if a court decides that a certain action is illegal in one case, then it should be illegal in similar cases in the future. Common law is different from civil law, which is based on written laws and codes. Examples: In the United States, common law is used in many areas of law, such as contract law and tort law. For example, if someone is injured in a car accident, the court will look at previous cases to decide who is responsible for the accident and how much compensation should be paid. The court will also consider the principles of fairness and justice when making its decision. Common law is important because it helps to create consistency and predictability in the legal system.