Which type of law is made by the decisions of judges over the years?

Common law is developed through the judgments and decisions made by judges in individual court cases over time. This type of law emerges from precedents, where past judicial decisions serve as guideposts for resolving current legal disputes. As judges interpret statutes and apply legal principles to specific cases, they create an evolving body of law that reflects judicial interpretations and societal values.

In contrast, statutory law is created by legislative bodies, where laws are written and enacted through formal legislative processes. Regulatory law comes from government agencies that develop rules and regulations within their jurisdiction, often to implement statutory laws. Civil law refers to the body of law that deals with private rights, typically involving disputes between individuals or organizations, and can include both statutes and directives from common law traditions. Understanding common law is crucial because it illustrates how legal principles can adapt over time through judicial rulings, reflecting changes in society.