What legal principle prevents the same issue from being litigated again after a final judgment?

Res judicata is a legal principle that prevents the same issue from being litigated again after a final judgment has been made. This doctrine ensures that once a court has reached a decision on a matter, the same parties cannot bring another lawsuit involving the same facts and issues again in order to promote judicial efficiency and protect the finality of decisions. It serves as a means for conserving judicial resources and avoiding the possibility of contradictory judgments resulting from multiple lawsuits on the same matter.

The concept is grounded in the idea that it is unjust to require parties to litigate the same issue repeatedly when a court has already provided a conclusive resolution. Once a case is decided, its determination becomes binding on the parties, thus preventing endless litigation over the same disputes. This principle is intended to provide certainty and stability in legal proceedings.

The other options represent different legal concepts that do not pertain directly to the idea of preventing relitigation of issues after a final judgment. Exhaustion of remedies refers to the requirement that a party must use all available administrative remedies before seeking judicial review. Stare decisis is about the obligation of courts to follow established precedent in deciding cases. Equitable tolling allows for the extension of deadlines in certain situations where a party is unable to fulfill a