LEGAL PRINCIPLE: CIVIL PROCEDURE – Res Judicata – Issue Estoppel – Effect of Final Decision

Courts must give effect to final decisions regardless of personal views. “Whatever their views” means: even if disagreeing, doubting correctness, or believing wrong—must follow. Duty: Courts have duty (not discretion) to: give effect to final decisions, not depart from them, and apply them despite views. “Final decision” especially binding—has conclusive effect requiring adherence. This serves: finality principle, preventing endless re-litigation, and ensuring decisions have binding effect. Why courts can’t depart: Finality requires: respect for prior determinations, binding effect of judgments, and preventing courts from ignoring prior decisions based on disagreement. If courts could: depart when disagreeing, refuse effect when doubting, or ignore when believing wrong—finality would be meaningless. Application: When prior final decision exists: subsequent courts must give it effect, cannot refuse to follow, and must apply it regardless of views. Only proper remedy for wrong decision: appeal to higher court, not refusal by coordinate/lower court. This prevents: coordinate courts from contradicting each other, lower courts from overruling higher courts, and endless re-litigation through judicial disagreement. The principle establishes: final decisions bind all subsequent proceedings, courts must apply them faithfully, and personal views don’t override binding effect.