The Law To Know

Hierarchy of Authority & Precedent Mapper

Not every prior decision binds a court the same way. Pick a court below to see exactly what binds it on a federal-law question, what binds it on a state-law question, and what’s merely persuasive — including two of the most commonly misunderstood points in the entire hierarchy.

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This tool explains the general structure of binding and persuasive authority in the US court system. It does not analyze any specific case or jurisdiction’s particular rules and does not provide legal advice about any specific situation. For guidance on an actual legal question, consult a licensed attorney.