It may be true that folks look to court cases in this way, but is it right? I am under the impression that court cases are for specific situations dealing with particular individuals and do not offer "definitive positions" as such. They offer a ruling on individuals. Court cases don't set precedents. We have our primary (Bible), secondary (Westminster CF, L & SC), and tertiary (BCO) standards, but court cases and even denominational reports don't provide a fourth level. Right? At least, this is my impression of how the OPC does it -- some denominations may be different, such as those who add "Testimonies" to the Confession. (This post is not meant to say Ay or Nay to a trial, I'm just wanting to understand the force of them correctly.)

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Casey Bessette
Westminster OPC • West Suburbs of Chicago • My Blog: Paradise Regained

"It is part of the calling of the ekklesia to learn to know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge and also to make known within the world of science 'the manifold wisdom of God' in order that the final end of theology, as of all things, may be that the name of the Lord is glorified. Theology and dogmatics, too, exist for the Lord's sake." — Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 1, p. 46