Final answer:
A citator provides a case history and referenced judicial decisions used in its determination, important for understanding case law and the application of stare decisis in the legal process.
Step-by-step explanation:
A citator provides the history of a case, including the authority relied on, such as other judicial decisions, in reaching its conclusion. This resource is significant in the context of case law, where the principles or guidelines established by courts in previous cases provide a blueprint for future decisions. When the court agrees to hear a case, the respective attorneys submit briefs that outline arguments and facts from relevant precedents which justices consider alongside lower court records. The stare decisis principle requires judges to adhere to precedents, using past decisions to justify their current rulings. Additionally, cases often reach the Supreme Court through a writ of certiorari, allowing for review of lower court records only if a significant legal question is at stake and agreed upon by at least four justices.