If a statute conflicts with a state supreme court decision, which prevails?

In the context of legal authority within a jurisdiction, statutes and case law (including decisions made by courts) hold different degrees of authority depending on the hierarchy of legal sources. Statutes are laws enacted by the legislative branch and hold strong authority. When a statute conflicts with a state supreme court decision, the statute is deemed to have greater authority when it is validly enacted. This is because the legislative body has the power to create laws, and unless the statute is found unconstitutional or invalid by the courts, it will take precedence over conflicting judicial interpretations.

Furthermore, the state supreme court's decisions are interpretations of existing laws, including statutes. If the legislature passes a new statute that contradicts a prior court decision, the new statute effectively overrides that decision because it reflects the most recent expression of the law. This hierarchy of authority underscores the principle that legislatively enacted statutes can establish new legal standards that must be followed, thus determining that the statute prevails in the event of a conflict.