Judicial Review Flashcards
What does Justice Cook say about why we have judicial review?
Decision-makers should make decisions fairly, reasonably, and within the law. Judicial review has the Court look at these and ensure they are being followed. If the decisions are not one of those, then the Court is able to attempt to find a remedy.
Ultra Vires
A decision-maker is acting beyond their power, beyond the law, they are acting beyond legal power.
What are the two principles of Judicial review?
- Rule of Law
- Parliamentary sovereignty
How does JR support the rule of law and parliamentary sovereignty?
Judicial review ensures that people in power are acting under the rule of law, but it also helps to keep a check on Parliament’s power giving.
Does Judicial review focus on process or outcome?
Process - It looks at how the decision was made and whether there was legal authority for it to occur.
Why do courts not focus on the outcome?
This is not an appeal. If the Court were to intervene with an opinion, then it is broaching on Parliamentary sovereignty.
Does JR have clear jurisdiction?
Nope, it’s all a bit fuzzy.
Is all public power exercised by the executive?
No
Are all powers exercised by the executive public powers?
No
What is an example of public power?
Police arresting someone
What is an example of the executive exercising non public powers?
Sometimes there are contractual obligations on the Executive to exercise power. Teachers are paid by the Ministry of Education who are using power, this however is not public power and is instead contractual.
Are all limits on public power legal limits? expand.
No, there are limits not grounded within law.
Soft law items (e.g. the Cabinet Manual) are created strictly to limit the powers of the Executive.
Convention and politics also act as limits.
What is the main point to take from the Judicial Review Procedure Act 2016?
All exercises of statutory power are amenable to Judicial Review.
What is a Statutory Power of Decision?
Any statute that gives someone the power to alter the rights, powers, privileges, immunities, duties, or liabilities of any person.
Where does the executive get their power?
- Statutory power.
- Prerogative power.
- Third source.
What questions do you ask under “Is the Decision Theoretically Amenable to judicial Review?”
- Is it statutory?
- Is it prerogative power?
- Is it 3rd source?
What questions do you ask under “Is the Decision Justiciable?”
- Is it public in nature?
- Does it involve issues the Court can’t/shouldn’t resolve.
What do we mean by is a decision justiciable?
Effectively, is this something the court should look at. Think Justice Able?
Bayline v Secretary of Education 2007 (High Court)
Facts:
- Minister has power to choose which bus company could have which route.
- Bayline has a lower rate than Bethlehem.
- Bethlehem won the route.
- Bayline sought judicial review.
Power:
- s 139D Education Act 1989
Is the Decision Theoretically Amenable to Judicial Review?
- Yes, statutory power.
Is the Decision Justiciable?
- No
- Not a public decision
- A quintessential low level contracting decision - no public consequences at all.
Decision
- Non justiciable as it lacked the public effect.
- A good example of where a decision of the Executive is far too private for it to have any public effect.
Curtis v Minister of Defence [2002] (CA)
Facts:
- Government decided to disband the air wing.
- Curtis said that this was ultra vires:
- If you take the planes with guns out of the air force, then you no longer have an Air Force.
- This would be an erasure of a branch of the Ministry.
Issue:
If you have the power to control, that does not mean you have the ability to erase.
Is this Decision Theoretically Amenable to Judicial Review?
Yes, statutory power.
Is the Decision Justiciable?
- No
- Too high level policy decision
- It is a very public issue
Decision
- This is a non-justiciable issue
- No satisfactory legal yardstick
- Question is political not legal
What is the idea of the goldilocks zone?
There are cases that are far too private and far too public. In between these two extremes is the perfect zone for Judicial Review.
The Courts often prefer a more central outlook when it comes to justiciability.
Why are too private matters not justiciable?
If every decision by the Government was amenable to Judicial Review, the processes would slow down the everyday workings of the country - commercial sense.
The Courts have a process to deal with private matters - property and contract law.
Judicial Review is meant for public matters by the judiciary. Why should the Government need to be fairer in private matters than a private organisation?
Why are too public matters not justiciable?
Courts should not decide political issues as they need to be impartial to Parliament. The Court is supervising the use of public power to ensure it stays within its legal limits. A very political issue is no longer contained within law and therefore has no legal limitations.
What is the situation regarding state owned enterprises?
Decisions by state-owned enterprises are private businesses that are owned by the Government. Are these public enough and close enough to the Executive that they are amenable to Judicial Review?
When may private decisions become public matters? Example of Spark.
Decisions by private actors can have massive consequences. Spark deciding to stop providing broadband to the South Island, would definitely be a private decision, however this would be a large use of public power. Google and Meta have revenues far greater than the domestic profit of New Zealand, this cannot be left as a decision that is - private companies only deal privately. Google and Meta would need to be held to Judicial Review as well.
What is section 5 of the Judicial Review Procedure Act?
(2)(b) deems any statutory power by any constitution or body corporate. Therefore all private corporations are theoretically amenable to Judicial Review.
???
Key Public/Private Cases on Theoretically Amenable?
Bayline, Curtis, and Hopper.
All theoretically amenable to review as they were exercises of statutory powers.
Key Public/Private Cases on Justiciability?
Bayline (too private) and Curtis (too public).
Hopper v North Shore Aero Club Inc 2006 (CA)
Facts:
- Mr Hopper wants to land and store his experimental aircraft at the aero club.
- Request denied.
Theoretically Amenable to Judicial Review?
The incorporated classifies this as a body corporate, thus is theoretically amenable to Judicial Review.
Justiciable?
- This decision is not public as no other person is affected.
- The decision of a private body is likely not amenable to review.
- There is no remedy within public law.
What is Locus Standi?
The Ability to Bring Judicial Review to Action
When can you bring judicial review?
- If you are directly affected, then you have standing to bring it to Judicial Review.
- If you are not, but it is of very high national importance, you probably have standing to bring it to Judicial Review.
Why is having standing important? (not everyone able to bring JR)
Stopping floodgates and extrodinate court fees, resources and delays.
Finnigan
Facts:
All Blacks tour in South Africa during the apartheid regime. The Rugby Football union is a private organisation.
Finnigan and friend challenged the decision.
Court of Appeal:
The decision is one of national importance. Finnigan and Co are allowed the standing to bring this to Judicial Review.
Historical Relevance:
This case opened the floodgates, allowing someone to seek Judicial Review when it is of great national importance.
What does Finnigan say about standing?
Allows someone to seek Judicial Review when the decision is of great national importance. Pretty much always have standing.
Great Christchurch Buildings Trust v Church Property Trustees 2012 (HC)
Facts:
CPT decided to demolish the cathedral.
GCBT take the decision to Judicial Review.
No one in GCBT were members of the Anglican church. They liked to look at it while walking through Christchurch.
High Court:
Standing granted.
Judicial Review Decision:
GCBT lost the Judicial Review as CPT were forced to make a decision and did not have the funds to make repairs - no point.
Historical Relevance:
To have standing, you must be directly affected, unless the decision is one of sufficient public importance.
What are the heads of judicial review?
- Illegality
- Procedural impropriety
- Unreasonableness
Why are there three categories?
They are a way of categorising how and why the line was crossed for the decision to get to Judicial Review.
Why do we have illegality?
A statute will never give a Minister / official unlimited power. There will always be conditions/terms, allowing Judicial Review to see when a person has exceeded their power.