Faith or credit is to be given to the last decisions.

Explanation

Where prior and later decisions conflict on the same point, the later decision is given credit as the more considered statement of the law. This maxim does not validate judicial drift — a recent opinion that departs from original constitutional meaning is not thereby superior to an older one that faithfully applied it.

Where this applies

• Two prior rulings disagree — the later one should be followed.
• When earlier and later decisions conflict, the court follows the more recent authority.