The difference is that precedent can guide a judge's decision, it doesn't force it. Likewise in civil law the judge isn't simply a referee, they're meant to ac

The difference is that precedent can guide a judge's decision, it doesn't force it. Likewise in civil law the judge isn't simply a referee, they're meant to actively investigate. While in common law lawyers get to do a big show by asking various questions, in civil law the questions are asked by the judge and the lawyers only exist to make an argument.