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Law Of The Case
The 'law of the case' means that once a judge decides a legal issue during your case, that same decision generally cannot be re-argued or changed later in the same case.
What it actually is
It is a procedural doctrine that prevents parties from relitigating issues that have already been decided by a court in the same case, whether at a hearing, motion, or trial. It applies to rulings made by the trial court and, if an appeal is taken, to decisions made by the appellate court that bind the trial court on remand. The doctrine is not a rigid rule but a discretionary guideline to promote finality and efficiency.
Why it matters in your case
If you lose a motion on a legal point, you cannot simply bring the same motion again later in the case hoping for a different result—you must live with that ruling unless it is properly appealed. This saves time and prevents endless re-argument, but it also means you must raise your strongest arguments the first time a legal issue is decided.
The common misunderstanding
Many people confuse 'law of the case' with 'res judicata' (claim preclusion) or 'collateral estoppel' (issue preclusion), but those doctrines apply to different cases, not different stages of the same case. Also, the 'law of the case' does not prevent a judge from correcting an obvious error or changing a ruling if new evidence or a higher court decision justifies it.
Get the actual rule
Definitions are orientation; rules are authority
This page explains the concept. When it matters to your case, read the rule that governs it in your court — we hold Texas, federal and Washington court rules word for word, and every state's official resources are on the state pages. If someone cites a case at you, check that it exists first.
Related
Terms that travel with this one
General explanation, not legal advice, and not specific to any state — procedures and deadlines vary by jurisdiction and court. If you can get a lawyer or free legal aid, do: every real option.