Law Dictionary of Legal Terminology

TO OVERRULE

TO OVERRULE. To annul, to make void. This word is frequently used to signify that a case has been decided directly opposite to a former case; when this takes place, the first decided case is said to be overruled as a precedent, and cannot any longer be considered as of binding authority.

2. Mr. Greenleaf has made a very valuable collection of overruled cases, of great service to the practitioner.

3. The term overrule also signifies that a majority of the judges have decided against the opinion of the minority, in which case the latter are said to be overruled.