Final answer:
Outcomes of court actions such as judgments to pay a debt are referred to as legal precedents or judicial decisions. These form part of case law, guided by the principle of stare decisis, ensuring consistency in the U.S. legal system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The outcomes of court actions such as judgments to pay a debt are typically referred to as legal precedents or judicial decisions. These are the results of the adjudication process in civil court cases where a judge or jury determines the legal consequences of the parties' actions. For example, if a party is found liable for a debt, the judgment will legally obligate that party to pay it. Under the Seventh Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the right to a jury trial in federal civil cases is guaranteed, although nowadays, such cases are not commonly heard in federal courts.
The U.S. court system is based on a principle known as stare decisis, which holds that new judicial decisions should follow the precedents established by previous decisions. This ensures consistency and stability in legal rulings. Case law forms the backbone of legal precedents and judicial rulings serve as guidelines for future court decisions.
In summary, when a judgment is passed to pay a debt or any other judicial decision is made, it contributes to the body of case law that will inform future legal proceedings in similar circumstances. It is worth noting that most civil cases involve disputes over money or property rather than criminal offenses, and the government is not a prosecutor in these cases.