Which source is used to cite past court decisions and precedents?

• A. Trial Transcripts
• B. Media Reports
• C. Law Reports
• D. Policy Documentation

Answer: (C)

The source for citing past court decisions and precedents is law reports. Law reports compile judgments from courts and provide authoritative references and the reasoning used to decide them, which forms the basis of precedent. This makes them essential for lawyers and judges when arguing or deciding cases, because they show how similar issues have been interpreted and applied before.

Trial transcripts record what happened in court, including speeches and questions, but they are not published as authoritative sources for legal principles. Media reports offer journalistic summaries and may reflect bias or incomplete information, so they’re not used as binding precedent. Policy documentation contains guidelines or recommendations rather than actual judicial decisions, so it does not establish precedent.