Against Methodological Stare Decisis

24 Pages Posted: 22 Nov 2013 Last revised: 21 Jun 2014

See all articles by Evan J. Criddle

Evan J. Criddle

William & Mary Law School

Glen Staszewski

Michigan State University College of Law

Date Written: November 21, 2013

Abstract

Should federal courts give stare decisis effect to statutory interpretation methodology? Although a growing number of legal scholars have answered this question in the affirmative, this Essay makes the case against methodological stare decisis. Drawing on recent empirical studies, we argue that Congress has yet to develop the type of coherent and stable expectations for statutory interpretation that would be necessary to support methodological stare decisis under a “faithful agency” theory of statutory interpretation. Although some theories and doctrines of statutory interpretation are based on constitutional norms and other public values that do not depend on Congress’s expectations, we argue that even under these theories federal courts should allow their interpretive methodology to remain flexible so that the law can respond effectively to changing societal norms over time. Finally, we argue that the value of extending stare decisis effect to interpretive methodology remains unproven. While treating prior methodological decisions as binding precedent could in theory promote the policies underlying stare decisis, the same would be true of extending that doctrine to virtually any rules. Yet freezing interpretive methodology into place would pose special and likely overwhelming difficulties for federal courts. We therefore conclude that federal courts should not extend stare decisis effect to methodological decisions without seriously grappling with these difficulties and demanding much stronger evidence that such a move would improve the operation of our legal system.

Keywords: statutory interpretation, stare decisis, faithful agency, canons, methodological stare decisis, legislation, federal courts, Congress

Suggested Citation

Criddle, Evan J. and Staszewski, Glen, Against Methodological Stare Decisis (November 21, 2013). 102 Georgetown Law Journal 1573 (2014) , William & Mary Law School Research Paper No. 09-266, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2358150

Evan J. Criddle (Contact Author)

William & Mary Law School ( email )

South Henry Street
P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
United States

Glen Staszewski

Michigan State University College of Law ( email )

420 Law College Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300
United States
517-432-6888 (Phone)
517-432-6879 (Fax)

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
187
Abstract Views
1,338
Rank
320,273
PlumX Metrics