A court is likely to depart from the rule of precedent if:

A. a precedent is hypothetical and academic.
B. a foreign government is involved in the precedent.
C. the government seeks to use a precedent in a criminal case.
D. the government seeks to use a precedent to grant pardon to an offender.
E. a precedent has been rendered inapplicable due to technical or social changes.

Answer: E