Judicial Precedent - Paper 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the meaning of judicial precedent?

A

It is the principle that past decisions of judges create law for future judges to follow. This source of law is known as ‘case law’ or ‘common law.’

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2
Q

What is the meaning of stare decisis?

A

Stand by what has been decided and do not unsettle the established

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3
Q

How does stare decisis work?

A

When a case has similar facts to an older case decided by a higher court, the judge in the present case must follow the decision of the higher court and apply the same principles of law in their own case

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4
Q

What is the ratio decidendi?

A

Means ‘reason for the deciding,’ and is the binding part of the judgement as it creates a precedent for future judges to follow

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5
Q

What is the obiter dicta?

A

Means ‘other things said,’ part of judgement which does not form the ratio so can be used as persuasive precedent

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6
Q

Give an example of an obita dicta

A

Lord Denning’s ‘swarm of bees’ analogy in Hill v Baxter

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7
Q

What is the meaning of law reporting?

A

Created by the Council of Law Reporting which contains the full judgement of the case so that future cases can follow the decisions

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8
Q

Explain the hierarchy of the courts?

A

Lower courts are bound to follow the precedents set by courts on the same level or higher

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9
Q

What is the Practice Statement?

A

Since 1966, the Practice Statement has allowed the Supreme Court to change the law if it believes an earlier case was wrongly decided

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10
Q

Give an example of when the Practice Statement was used

A

R v Shivpuri, which overruled Anderton v Ryan

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11
Q

What is the meaning of distinguishing?

A

If the facts are materially different then there is no obligation to follow the previous case, an example is R v Brown and R v Wilson

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12
Q

What is meant by overruling?

A

Court is asked to review whether a precedent created by a court lower in the hierarchy is correct law

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13
Q

What are the advantages of precedent?

A

It leads to consistency and fairness in the law

It makes the law flexible

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14
Q

What are the disadvantages of precedent?

A

It can make the law rigid, and lead to complexity

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