4 THE THEORETICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE DOCTRINE OF PRECEDENT Many legal theorists and practitioners have attempted, over the years, to give precise definitions of the English doctrine of precedent. Unfortunately for law students, there are no simple shortcuts to understanding the practical everyday working of the doctrine of precedent. However, a few theoretical ground rules can be established, which at least place the operation of the doctrine of precedent within a context: (1) judges at all levels of the court hierarchy must follow decisions of the higher courts; (2) judges in the higher courts must follow previous decisions of their own courtor that of a higher court if the case was similar, and does not fall into any allowed exceptions. It is accepted, however, that in the Court of Appeal, a more relaxed attitude can be taken in relation to criminal appeals; (3) since a Practice Statement by the Lord Chancellor in 1966, judges in the House of Lords have the freedom to decline to follow their own previous decisions (Practice Direction (Judicial Precedent) [1966] 3 All ER 77). This freedom is exercised sparingly—but in a more relaxed way in its criminal jurisdiction than in its civil jurisdiction. Much depends on the definition of similar. How similar must a previous case be before it becomes a precedent to be followed in a current case? Notice, again, how everything turns on language and the meaning of words. The facts of cases usually vary in some way Law is about life and life rarely replicates itself exactly, but trends and degrees of similarity can be noted. The following issues need to be dealt with: (1) must the law be similar now as then? (2) what happens if there are small fact differences? (3) what if there are a range of small differences—is the case sufficiently similar? There are no definitions of similar for the purposes of the doctrine and this is where the judge can bring subjective influences into the decision making processes. He or she can determine what ‘similarity’ is. In addition, how can the reason for the case be extracted? Similar cases must be decided in accordance with the same reasoning process. The actual doctrine as it has developed refers to keeping to the reasons for deciding past cases. How does one find the reasoning? Wambaugh, a theorist working in America in the late 19th century, suggests that one way of ascertaining the reason for the decision (ratio decidendi) is to look for a general rule of law in the judgments and test whether it is foundational for deciding the case by translating it into the negative form and seeing if the case would then have been decided differently. In other words, he suggests locating the ratio by using a negative method as illustrated by the flow chart in Figure 4.3, below. Wambaugh emphasises the search for a rule.

2012 ◽  
pp. 80-80
Keyword(s):  
General Rule ◽  
Law Students ◽  
Theoretical Ground ◽  
Current Case ◽  
House Of Lords ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Lord Chancellor ◽  
Court Of Appeal ◽  
A Current

Surprisingly, there are no official authoritative series of law reports in England to equate with the Queen’s Printers copy of an Act of Parliament. The Stationery Office is responsible for publishing revenue, immigration and social security law cases. However, traditionally, law reports remain in the hands of private publishers. Today, there are numerous, often competitive, private publishers. Although there are no official series of law reports, the courts do respect some reports more than others. A long established, conventional rule is that a law report, if it is to be accepted by the relevant court as an authority, must be prepared by and published under the name of a fully qualified barrister. The greater accuracy of modern reporting, and the vetting by judges, necessitates longer delays before the cases are published. Also, the Law Reports only cover 7% of the cases in the higher courts in any given year. Interesting issues are: (a) who selects which cases to report? (b) how are they selected? Editors select the cases for inclusion in the series of law reports. These are highly trained lawyers, well acquainted with precedent and the likely importance of cases. During the past 150 years publishers of law reports have been generalists or specialists. Some law reports are annotated, particularly for the use of practitioners, others left without annotations, introductions, etc. In addition to reported cases, the Supreme Court Library contains thousands of files of unreported cases. In 1940, the Lord Chancellor’s Department prepared a report: The Report of the Law Reporting Committee. The Committee considered that, after editors had made their choices, ‘What remains is less likely to be a treasure house than a rubbish heap in which a jewel will rarely, if ever, be discovered’ (p 20). (Note the poetic language that forcefully carries the point.) Of course, today, there is a vast range of electronic retrieval systems for accessing details of thousands of unreported cases. This has caused its own problems and there was a legitimate concern that courts would be inundated with cases that did not really contain any new law, but which had been retrieved from electronic sources. In the case of Roberts Petroleum Ltd v Bernard Kenny Ltd [1983] 2 AC 192, the House of Lords took the step of forbidding the citation of unreported cases of the civil division of the Court of Appeal without special leave. The rule remains, however, that to be an accepted version that can be quoted in court the report must have been prepared and published by a barrister. When law students read law reports they must ask: (a) is this report the most authoritative version available? (b) are there fuller versions? (c) if unreported, does this case add to the law? Figure 4.2, below, sets out the types of reports available for the law student to consult.

2012 ◽  
pp. 78-79
Keyword(s):  
Law Students ◽  
Retrieval Systems ◽  
House Of Lords ◽  
The Supreme Court ◽  
Legitimate Concern ◽  
The Law ◽  
Law Student ◽  
Law Reports ◽  
Court Of Appeal ◽  
Vast Range

Precedents in the Court of Appeal

1947 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-365
Author(s):  
A. L. Goodhart
Keyword(s):  
County Council ◽  
Privy Council ◽  
House Of Lords ◽  
Lord Chancellor ◽  
Court Of Appeal

It was not until 1898 that the rule that the House of Lords is absolutely bound by its own judgments was finally established in London, Street Tramways Co., Ltd. v. London County Council. The justification for this rule was stated by Lord Halsbury L.C. in these words: ‘What is that occasional interference with what is perhaps abstract justice as compared with the inconvenience—the disastrous inconvenience—of having each question subject to being reargued and the dealings of man-kind rendered doubtful by reason of different decisions, so that in truth and in fact there would be no real final Court of Appeal?’ It is strange that the Lord Chancellor did not refer to the fact that although the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is, for constitutional reasons, not absolutely bound by its own judgments, nevertheless no ‘disastrous inconvenience’ has followed from this. In practice the Judicial Committee follows its own prior judgments unless they are clearly wrong, but it does so on the ground of reason rather than on that of absolute authority.

Diversidad sexual e Intervención Social: reflexiones desde el Trabajo Social

2016 ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Azocar González
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Intervention ◽  
Sexual Diversity ◽  
Current Group ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Trabajo Social ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Los Grupos ◽  
A Current

RESUMENEl presente artículo es fruto de una investigación de largo alcance que busca generar discusión en torno a los desafíos contemporáneos del Trabajo Social en la construcción de alternativas de intervención social en contextos de diversidad sexual en Chile. La crisis de la norma heterosexual refleja una contemporaneidad marcada por la visibilidad de los grupos históricamente excluidos, reflejo de la sensibilización y cuestionamiento de una masculinidad dominante intrínsecamente exclusora e inalcanzable, como también de procesos de posicionamiento político y cultural de un colectivo presente, pero hasta hace poco invisibilizado, en nuestro país. A través de técnicas etnográficas y la incorporación del concepto de mercado como vehículo de visibilidad, el trabajo propone ideas coherentes con la construcción de una praxis transdisciplinar que responde a la nueva definición de Trabajo Social, en discusión a nivel mundial, como de los procesos de cuestionamiento y mudanza ciudadanos revitalizados en la última década.Palabras clave: Intervención social, diversidad sexual, trabajo social, desafíos. Diversidade sexual e intervenção social: reflexões a partir do Trabalho SocialRESUMOO presente artigo é o resultado de uma pesquisa de longo alcance que procura gerar discussão em relação aos desafios contemporâneos do Trabalho Social na construção de alternativas de intervenção social em contextos de diversidade sexual no Chile. A crise da norma heterossexual reflete uma contemporaneidade marcada pela visibilidade dos grupos historicamente excluídos, reflexo da conscientização e questionamento de uma masculinidade dominante intrinsecamente que exclui e que se apresenta como inatingível, bem como processos de posicionamento político e cultural de um coletivo presente, mas até recentemente invisível em nosso país. Através de técnicas etnográficas e incorporação do conceito de mercado como veículo de visibilidade, o trabalho propõe ideias coerentes com a construçãode uma prática transdisciplinar que respondam à nova definição de TrabalhoSocial, discutido mundialmente, como dos processos de questionamento emudança cidadã revitalizados na última década.Palavras-chave: intervenção social, diversidade sexual, trabalho social,desafios. Sexual diversity and social intervention: Reflections fromsocial workABSTRACTThe current article is the result of a wider research that seeks to generatediscussion about the actual challenges of social work in the constructionof alternatives of social intervention on sexual diversity contexts in Chile.The crisis of the heterosexual regulation reflects a contemporaneity markedby the visibility of the historically excluded groups, as a reflection of thesensitivity and questioning of a dominant manhood inherently excluder andunreachable, as political and positioning processes of a current group, butuntil recently hidden in our country. Through ethnographic technics and theincorporation of the concept of market as a vehicle of visibility, this worksproposes ideas coherent with the construction of a cross-curricular praxisthat responds to the new definition of social work, globally discussed, as wellas the questioning processes and citizen movements during last decade.Keywords: Social intervention, sexual diversity, social work, challenges

Consent after the House of Lords: Taking and leading astray the Law of Theft

Legal Studies ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-322
Author(s):  
Mitchell C. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
House Of Lords ◽  
The Law ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Specific Definition

The objectives of the Criminal Law Revision Committee when drafting the radical reforms proposed by the 1966 Theft Bill were described by a contemporary commentator2 as being: ‘. . . to do away with the more embarrassing and restrictive technicalities of the existing law . . .’In the same place it was observed that the Committee faced a choice between creating a specific definition of the various theft offences and their elements, or one whose generality would allow it to evolve to meet the challenges presented by ever more complex and sophisticated dishonest dealing.

scholarly journals Culpability, Kingston and the Law Commission

2010 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 434-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cath Crosby
Keyword(s):  
Justice System ◽  
Criminal Liability ◽  
Character Theory ◽  
Criminal Offence ◽  
Pragmatic Approach ◽  
House Of Lords ◽  
The Law ◽  
Court Of Appeal ◽  
Law Commission ◽  
Do So

This article considers the basis upon which a person should be held to be criminally liable, and to do so, it is necessary to examine the leading theories of character and choice that underpin the State holding a person to be culpable of a criminal offence, i.e. the link between culpability and fault. The case of R v Kingston1 is used to examine the application of these leading theories and it is observed that choice theorists would not excuse such a defendant from criminal liability even though his capacity to make a choice to refrain from law breaking was made extremely difficult by external factors beyond his control. Only character theory could possibly offer exculpation in such circumstances on the basis that the defendant acted ‘out of character’ and his deed did not deserve the full censure and punishment of the criminal law. The Court of Appeal in R v Kingston would have been prepared to excuse, but the House of Lords, and most recently the Law Commission have adopted a pragmatic approach to the involuntarily intoxicated offender. This case serves as a reminder that while justice is the aim of the criminal justice system, it is not an absolute standard.

Psychiatric injury in breach of a relationship

Legal Studies ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Handford
Keyword(s):  
House Of Lords ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Damage Law ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Court Of Appeal ◽  
Special Category

The distinction between primary and secondary victims confirmed by Page v Smith has caused major problems in English psychiatric damage law. The House of Lords has suggested that the search for principle has been called off, and that the only sensible strategy is to say ‘thus far and no farther’. This paper suggests that one way forward is to recognise that it is not only persons who are physically proximate to an ‘accident’ who should be put in a special category: any case in which there is some sort of pre-existing relationship between claimant and defendant should be regarded as different from the standard secondary victim scenario. The relationship concept, first recognised in the USA and now adopted by the Court of Appeal, can be found in embryo form in the early cases.

scholarly journals Aproximación teórica y práctica a una propuesta de gestión conjunta: el archivo y la biblioteca de la familia Belmonte-Chico de Guzmán

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camino Sánchez Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Management System ◽  
Private Ownership ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
15Th Century ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Siglo Xx ◽  
A Current

ENGLISH: The paper presents a current research and examines the design elements of a Familiar Heritage Documentary Collection, composed by bibliographical (a library) and archival (a family archive) collections, and, with enough frequency, a collection of objects related to the activities of the generators of these kind of heritage. The objective is to reflect on the definition of an integrator management system, with particular reference to patrimonial conceptualization and organisation documental systems. It is exposed The experience of managing a particular case of private ownership: the library and archive of the Belmonte-Chico de Guzmán family. We refer to a historical collection, of bibliographic and archival character, contributed and generated by the members of the different generations, branches and houses that compose this Castilian family of noble origin, throughout several centuries (from the end of the 15th century to the beginning of the 20th century). SPANISH: Se presenta parte de una investigación en curso, cuyo objetivo es definir y reflexionar sobre los elementos que fundamentan un sistema de gestión de lo que se ha denominado como un Fondo Documental Patrimonial Familiar (FDPF), compuesto por un fondo bibliográfico (una biblioteca), un fondo archivístico (un archivo familiar) y, con bastante frecuencia, una colección de objetos materiales relacionados con las actividades de los generadores del FDPF. El objetivo es reflexionar sobre la definición de un sistema de gestión conjunto en base a su conceptualización patrimonial, a su procesamiento documental y a su funcionalidad, así como atender al tipo de centro a cargo de dicho patrimonio. Se expone la experiencia de gestión de un caso particular de titularidad privada: la biblioteca y el archivo de la familia Belmonte-Chico de Guzmán. Nos referimos a un fondo histórico, de carácter bibliográfico y archivístico, aportado y generado por los miembros de las distintas generaciones, ramas y casas que componen esta familia castellana de origen nobiliario- hidalgo, a lo largo de varios siglos (desde finales del s. XV hasta inicios del siglo XX).

scholarly journals A VINCULAÇÃO DO PRINCÍPIO PROCESSUAL DA NÃO-SURPRESA E A APLICAÇÃO DA LEI DE INTRODUÇÃO ÀS NORMAS DO DIREITO BRASILEIRO – LINDB

Percurso ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (30) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Frabriccio Petreli TAROSSO
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
General Rule ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Public Law ◽  
Tax Law ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Legal Certainty ◽  
Federal Law ◽  
National Tax ◽  
Definition Of

RESUMOO presente artigo pretende aproximar alguns conceitos da novel Lei de Introdução às Normas do Direito Brasileiro – LINDB ao princípio da não-surpresa aplicável ao processo tributário, seja ele Administrativo ou Judicial. A Lei Federal n. 13.655 de 25/04/2018 houve por incluir no Decreto-Lei nº 4.657, de 4 de setembro de 1942 - Lei de Introdução às Normas do Direito Brasileiro - disposições sobre segurança jurídica e eficiência na criação e na aplicação do direito público. Deste modo, muitas dúvidas têm surgido acerca da convivência entre a regra geral de direito tributário, inserta no Art. 144 do Código Tributário Nacional, de que a lei vigente à época dos fatos geradores deve ser levada em conta ao deslinde de uma questão e que a jurisprudência majoritária à época dos mesmos fatos – se modificada – não deve servir de parâmetro para a tomada das decisões. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Lei de Introdução às Normas do Direito Brasileiro – LINDB; Princípio Processual da não-surpresa.ABSTRACTThe present article intends to approximate some concepts of the novel Law of Introduction to the Norms of Brazilian Law - LINDB to the principle of non-surprise applicable to the tax process, be it Administrative or Judicial. Federal Law n. 13,655 dated 04/25/2018, there was a need to include in Decree-Law No. 4.657, dated September 4, 1942 - Law on Introduction to the Rules of Brazilian Law - provisions on legal certainty and efficiency in the creation and application of public law. In this way, many doubts have arisen about the coexistence between the general rule of tax law, inserted in Article 144 of the National Tax Code, that the law in force at the time of the generating facts must be taken into account in the definition of an issue and that the majority case-law at the time of the same facts - if modified - should not serve as a parameter for decision-making. The study will have as a method the legal and bibliographical research on the subject.KEYWORDS: Law of Introduction to the Norms of Brazilian Law – LINDB; Procedural Principle of Non-Surpris

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