What is meant by black letter law?

Black letter law refers to the basic principles or well-established rules of law that are widely accepted and recognized by the legal community. These principles are usually clear, straightforward, and not open to considerable dispute, making them foundational aspects of legal knowledge. The term stems from the traditional practice of publishing key legal statutes in bold, black typeface, which signifies their importance and clarity in legal texts.

These fundamental laws often serve as the baseline for more complex legal interpretations and applications. Understanding black letter law is crucial for any legal practitioner, as it provides the essential framework upon which other legal arguments, theories, and procedural rules can be built. The other options presented do not accurately capture this fundamental definition: changing principles, debatable theories, and complex procedural rules do not reflect the stable and established nature of black letter law.