Primary authority refers to the statements of law that are authoritative and binding, such as statutes, regulations, case law, and constitutions. These statements are created by legislative bodies, courts, and other governmental bodies with the official capacity to issue or clarify rules for its jurisdiction. Primary authority is always mandatory and must be followed in legal disputes where it governs.
See also: secondary authority.
[Last updated in March of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]