judiciary Flashcards
what are the roles of the supreme court
-the uks final court of appeal
-appeals on cases of public significance
-defend rights and liberties of citizens
-interpret laws
-make common laws
how does the supreme court defend rights and liberties
-use the HRA 1998
-porotect EU laws
-judicial review
which act established the supreme court
2005 constitutional reform act
how does judicial review influence govt
can use it to overturn secondary legislation and declare laws as llegal, or incompatible with the HRA
ultra vires
when a individual acts beyond their powers
example of declration of incompatibility
Civil Partnership Act did not comply with ECHR as gay couples are allowed to marry or become civil partners but straight couples are not (June 2018)
how many judges make up the SC
12
what are the two key principles
independence and neutrality
who are they appointed by
JAC Judicial Appointments Commission
example of case heard by supreme court
2016-17, Gina Miller
,argued that the Prime Minister did not have the right to trigger Article 50 (the formal notice of Britain’s exit from the EU)
without the consultation of Parliament.
The Court found in Miller’s favour, and Parliament voted to trigger Article 50 in 2017.
judicial neautrality is sustained by
absence of any form of partisanship or political influence
judges can also not sit in any hearings regarding family members
rarely speak out to the public
base all decisions on the law
criticism of neautrality
all come from narow backgrounds so argued to have conservative bias
only two are not oxbridge educated
judicial independence
this is the principle that the actions and decisions of judges should not be influenced by pressure from other branches of government
how is judicial independence maintained
appointed by independent commision
security of tenure
payed independently not by government
physically seperate from govt and legislaturere
how is judicial independence maintained
appointed by independent commision
cant be sacked unless break the law
payed independently not by government
physically seperate from govt and legislaturere
how is judicial independence maintained
appointed by independent commision
cant be sacked unless break the law
payed independently not by government
physically seperate from govt and legislaturere
how are they appointed
JAC nominates justices which are appointed or rejected by Lord Chancellor
the appoitnmemtn is then confirmed by the monarch
Lee vs Ashers Bakery
company refused same sex marriage themed cake
case taken to SCUK and was found in favour of the bakery (same sex marriage was illegal in Ireland in 2014 - 2020 was legalised)
taken to ECHR and dismissed.
impact on govt
if finds govt action or bill conflicts with human rights will declare a declaration of incompatibility
the govt is expected to follow this but does not have to
E.G continued to deny the prisoners right to vote after the court ruled against it in 2005
how does tyranny of the majority limit SC
soverignty allows them to overrule court decisions and pass legislation
impact on legislature
independent physically (sep of powers) since 2009 so less direct influence
factor tame allows it to suspend statute law if it does not comply with EU law (pre-BREXIT?)
parliament is sovereign so can repeal/amend HRA 1998 if it wants to e.g conservative bill of rights
courts judicial review of the miller case strengthened parliament
three impacts of the HRA
seeking justice in a British court
rights must be respected by public bodies
new laws are compatible with conventional rights
how does HRA threaten power of justices
not entrenched/ can be repealed
not higher law
parliamentary sovereignty
how has HRA made UKSC more powerful than law lords
it is difficult for govt to go against rulings
declaration of incompatibility