NYLJ Eastern District Roundup
A Short Guide to the Complex Rules of Binding Precedent in New York State Courts
Posted: February 2, 2026 / Written by: John Moore / Category NYLJ Eastern District Roundup
A Short Guide to the Complex Rules of Binding Precedent in New York State Courts
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a state that calls its trial courts the Supreme Court, the rules of binding precedent in New York state courts are not always obvious. Online searches turn up summaries (written by AI and attorneys alike) that confidently proclaim incorrect rules for when a particular decision binds other courts to the same result. Because the question of whether a court’s decision is binding can end up determining a case, this article aims to set the record straight with a (mostly) comprehensive explanation of what decisions are binding and when.