Judical precedent Flashcards
Judicial precedent
Source of law where decisions create law for future judges to follow.
Stare decisis
Decisions can be looked at by other judges in later cases.
Ratio decidendi
Judges reason for deciding the court case.
Obiter Dicta
Anything which isn’t ratio decidendi.
Original precedent
A new law created and followed.
Persuasive precedent
Court decisions that are advisory only.
Overruling
Power of court to decide that a previous decision was wrongly made and not followed.
Reversing
When a court higher up in the hierarchy on appeal overturns a lower court decision in same case.
Distinguishing
When the facts of the case are deemed sufficiently different so the previous case is no longer binding.
Whats the order of the courts?
Supreme
Court of appeal
High court
County and crown court
Tribunals and Magistrates
What did sir Rupert Cross say about ratio decidendi ?
‘Any rule expressly or impliedly treated by the judge as a neccesary step to reaching his conclusion’
Howe
Obiter dicta Hl duress no defence to murder.
Gotts
Hl followed Howe and in ratio decidendi ruled duress can not be a defence for attempted murder.
Examples of original precedent
Donoghue
Hunter
Fearn
Binding precedent
Legal principle must be followed.
When is a precedent binding?
If its from higher courts.
Example of binding precedent
Scruttons
Persuasive precedent
Obiter dicta statements
Discussion of hypothetical situation
Decisions by privy council
Dissenting judgement
Decisions from other countries
Obiter dicta statements case
Howe
Discussion of hypothetical situation case
Baxter
Decisions by privy council case
mound