Issue/Court that you are in
Mandatory Authority (must
follow)
Persuasive Authority (not
required to follow)
State issue in state trial court
The state high court
The state intermediary appeals
court
All U.S. courts
Other states’ state courts
Other state trial courts in the
same state
State issue in state intermediary
appeals court
The state high court
All U.S. courts
Other states’ state courts
State trial courts in the same state
Other state courts of appeals in
the same state
State issue in state’s highest court
The state high court
All U.S. courts
Other states’ state courts
State trial courts in the same state
State int. appeals courts in the
same state
Federal issue in state trial court
U.S. Supreme Court
All U.S. district courts
All U.S. Courts of Appeal
State courts
Federal issue in state intermediary
appeals court
U.S. Supreme Court
All U.S. district courts
All U.S. Courts of Appeal
State courts
Federal issue in state supreme
court
U.S. Supreme Court
All U.S. district courts
All U.S. Courts of Appeal
State courts
State issue in federal district court
Interpretations from the state’s
highest court
All U.S. courts
Other state courts
State issue in federal Court of
Appeals
Interpretations from the state’s
highest court
All U.S. courts
Other state courts
State issue in U.S. Supreme Court
Interpretations from the state’s
highest court
All U.S. courts
Other state courts
Federal issue in U.S. district court
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals court in the
circuit of which the district court is
located
Other U.S. Courts of Appeal
Other U.S. district courts
All state courts
Federal issue in U.S. Court of
Appeals
That same U.S. Court of Appeals
U.S. Supreme Court
Other U.S. Courts of Appeal
Other U.S. district courts
All state courts
Federal issue in U.S. Supreme
Court
U.S. Supreme Court
All U.S. Courts of Appeal
All U.S. district courts
All state courts
Chart of Mandatory and Persuasive Case Law Authority