Public Flashcards
Once a principle of law has been laid down, future cases with the same material facts will be decided in the same way if what 2 conditions are fulfilled?
- The earlier case was decided in a court which binds it; and
- The relevant part of the earlier case is binding (vs persuasive)
What is the ratio of a judgment?
-The part of the judgment which is binding on other courts
-The legal principle/rule on which the court’s decision is based, applied to the material facts of the case
What is the obiter dictum, and what is its use?
-Judge comments on an area of law on which it is not necessary to reach a decision in the case
-Not binding, but may be highly persuasive and influential in subsequent cases (‘practically binding’)
What does following a decision mean?
Court considers the facts of a case to be so similar to those facts in an earlier case that the law in the earlier case should be followed
What does ‘approving’ mean?
The court ‘follows’ a decision + the court doing the following is a higher court
What does ‘distinguishing’ mean?
A court avoids following an otherwise binding precedent by e.g. finding a difference in the material facts between the 2 cases
What is a reversed judgment? Does this negate a precedent?
-A case goes to appeal and the higher appeal court disagrees with the lower court
-Does not negate a precedent: simply means that the higher court has not applied the law in the same way
What does it mean if precedent is overruled or overturned?
A superior court in a later case decides that the original precedent set in a past case is wrong and sets a new ‘correct’ precedent instead –> original precedent is no longer good law
e.g., UKSC may overrule a precedent from CoA
What is UKSC’s approach to departing from its own precedent?
Guarded but flexible:
1) Recognises that it may sometimes be necessary
2) Danger of disturbing retrospectively basis of legal decisions + need certainty re criminal law
When will CoA depart from its own precedent?
- CoA came into previously conflicting decisions - today’s CoA can select the one to follow
- UKSC/HoL overruled CoA’s previous decision
- CoA’s previous decision was made per incuriam (i.e., the previous court was unaware of a relevant authority which would have been binding on the court + that ignorance led to faulty reasoning by court)
What courts are E&W’s courts binding on?
UKSC, CoA, HC: all inferior courts and itself (s.t. exceptions)
Upper Tribunal: 1st Tier Tribunal, inferior courts, and itself
1st Tier Tribunal: not binding, but may be persuasive
Family Court, County Court, CC, MC: not binding
What is the equitable maxim?
Equity follows the law (i.e., the function of equity is to supplement, and not supplant, the common law)
When is specific performance unavailable (x2)?
-Breach of contract for personal services (e.g. employment)
-Performance of contractual obligations would require constant supervision
What is a declaration?
A legally binding statement by a court about:
-Legal rights of the parties;
-The existence of facts; or
-A principle of law
When can the court make a binding declaration?
Regardless of whether any other remedy is claimed (note: a claim for a declaration alone is unusual)
What are 5 key equitable remedies?
- Specific performance
- Injunction
- Declaration
- Rescission
- Rectification
What must be present for rescission to be employed? What are 3 circumstances in which it may be used?
Parties can be put back to their pre-contractual position
1. Misrep
2. Mistake
3. Duress/UI
When does rectification apply? When is it unavailable?
-Only applies to written contracts
-Unavailable if errors in written contract are too fundamental/ extensive
What is rectification?
Corrects a doc to reflect the parties’ contractual intention
What is unique about bills dealing with public finance?
Start in HoC and cannot be defeated in HoL (whereas other bills may start in HoC/HoL)
Primary legislation: what happens during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd readings?
1st: formality - Bill’s title read out; date set for 2nd reading
2nd reading: main principles of Bill are debated
3rd reading: final debate and vote on Bill; if passed, goes to other House
Primary legislation: what happens at the Committee stage?
Legislative committee scrutinise - and potentially amend - details of Bill
When does an Act take effect?
-From the day it receives Royal Assent, unless there is a contrary provision in the statute
-Generally, commencement section in Act details when it is to come into force (typically, SoS is delegated power to issue a SI to bring Act into force)
What are the key differences between public (or general) and private (or personal) Acts?
-Public relate to matters of general public concern; private to particular places/people
-Public relies on lobbying to consider outside bodies’ views; private usually stems from a proposal by a large organisation which wishes to acquire certain powers