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In legal terms, when is a precedent considered 'wrong' by a higher court?

  1. When the law has changed

  2. When its application leads to unjust results

  3. When it is no longer relevant

  4. When it contradicts a previous ruling

The correct answer is: When the law has changed

A precedent is considered 'wrong' by a higher court when the law has changed. This occurs when there are changes either through new legislation or when the interpretation of existing laws is updated by the higher court itself. Legal principles and precedents are meant to adapt to the evolving legal landscape, ensuring that the law reflects current values and social norms. For instance, if a higher court issues a ruling that reinterprets or alters the legal framework, a previous decision may be deemed incorrect going forward. This might also include instances where significant societal changes or views on policy impact the applicability of a prior legal precedent. Though other options touch on relevant aspects—like unjust results or contradictions—these do not encompass the fundamental basis for a legal precedent being considered 'wrong' according to the hierarchy and evolution of law. Changes in law through statutes or higher court rulings directly affect the validity of past rulings, whereas the other factors often relate more to the outcomes of the decisions rather than their legal status per se.