When can a court overrule the decision of another court?

Question

When can a court overrule the decision of another court and when can they not?

Answer 1

It has to be a higher court to whom the decision has been appealed.

Answer 2

Usually it is an appellate court which is overruling a lower court. All courts are governed by the doctrine of "stare decisis", essentially following judicial precedent. In all likelihood, the appellate court had a disagreement with whatever was in the appellate record (looking at the law and facts) of the case.

There are some instances, however, in which different county courts in a jurisdiction may come up with different results. This does not necessarily mean that the one county's court is overruling another county's court. It could rest on a narrow interpretation of the law and facts of the case.

Answer 3

When its a "higher Court".

Nothing can override the decision of the Supreme Court.

I wish you well...

Jesse