Legal Definitions - quieta non movere

Quieta non movere is a Latin phrase that means "not to unsettle things that are established." It is a principle that suggests that once a decision has been made, it should not be questioned or changed unless there are urgent reasons to do so.

This principle is closely related to the doctrine of precedent, which is the idea that courts should follow earlier judicial decisions when the same points arise again in litigation. This is also known as stare decisis.

For example, if a court has previously ruled that a certain type of behavior is illegal, then other courts should follow that ruling in similar cases unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise. This helps to ensure consistency and predictability in the legal system.

Another related concept is res judicata, which means "a matter already judged." This principle holds that once a final judgment has been made in a case, the same parties cannot bring the same claim again in a different court.

Overall, quieta non movere is a reminder that stability and consistency are important values in the legal system, and that decisions should not be overturned lightly.