 Even when a prior legal decision does not create a binding precedent, the text of the court's opinion may still help lawyers and judges understand California law.Some types of prior decisions may be cited as non-binding authority in California courts, while others can only be consulted informally.The most powerful form of non-binding authority in California are the portions of appellate opinions known as dicta, in which a court discusses legal issues that it is not obligated to decide in the case before it.