Statutory interpretation Law making Flashcards

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1
Q

Definition of statutory interpretation

A

When a judge gives meaning to words of an act of parliament when delivering their judgement in court.

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2
Q

Literal rule definition

A

Ordinary and plain reasoning.

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3
Q

City of London court

A

‘If words of act are clear you must follow them no matter if they result in an absurdity.’

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4
Q

Worker killed whilst doing maintenance. Courts took words ‘relaying’ and ‘repairing’ literally so widows claim failed.

A

Beriman

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5
Q

Cheeseman

A

D indecent exposure police caught him. Passengers implied literal and police weren’t seen as trespassers so not liable.

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6
Q

Advantages of literal rule

A

Parliament supremacy
Certainty as results are predictable
Decisions made quickly
Encourages parliament to amend and reform laws.

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7
Q

Disadvantages of literal rule

A

Lead to absurd results
Unfair harsh results
Lawyers think easily predict outcome however cant.
Old fashioned and outdated

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8
Q

Lead to absurd results case

A

Chappel

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9
Q

Unfair harsh results case

A

Beriman

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10
Q

Lawyers think easy to predict case

A

Allen

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11
Q

Old fashioned and outdated case

A

Hart

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12
Q

Golden rule definition

A

Starts with a literal approach and if produces absurd result allowed to be flexible.

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13
Q

Narrow golden rule

A

Chose best interpretation of ambiguous words.

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14
Q

Wide golden rule

A

Words only one meaning but can modify if ambiguous.

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15
Q

Sigsworth

A

Golden rule was used to stop murderer inheriting victim’s inheritance.

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16
Q

Narrow golden role was used words ‘in the vicinity’ interpreted as ‘being in or in the vicinity’. D was guilty.

A

George

17
Q

Allen

A

Golden rule used on ‘shall marry’ so it was the ceremony and D charged with bigamy.

18
Q

Golden rule advantages

A

Respect parliament authority whilst allowing flexibility fairly certain outcomes
Quick and easy
prevent unfair or absurd decisions.

19
Q

Golden rule disadvantages

A

Subjective as who decides what is absurd
Creates unpredictability with use of narrow and wide
Goes against parliament supremacy
outdated

20
Q

Mischief rule rules

A

Looks at mischief act was trying to stop
Looks at common law before act passed
What was the remedy parliament proposed
What was the true reason for the remedy

21
Q

Hughes

A

Court used mischief rule on prostitutes who claimed they weren’t soliciting in the streets and found them guilty.

22
Q

Mischief rule made medical improvements with abortions legal.

A

DHSS

23
Q

Grey

A

Applied mischief rule and found statue was about ensuring the injured was compensated so D was liable.

24
Q

Mischief rule advantages

A

Aims to give effect to true intention of parliament, More flexible approach
Uses expertise of judges
Produces fairer outcomes than literal and golden rule.

25
Q

More flexible approach case

A

DHSS

26
Q

Mischief rule disadvantages

A

Too much power to judges
Difficult to apply
Uncertainty
Outdated

27
Q

Why does the mischief rule bring uncertainty?

A

as statues can be over ruled by reinterpretation.

28
Q

Why is the mischief rule outdated?

A

Comes from 1584.

29
Q

Purposive approach definition

A

Judges interpret by trying to work out what parliament meant and the purpouse.

30
Q

Quintavalle

A

wide interpretation of what an embryo could be.

31
Q

Using purposive approach to look at what was outside scope of employment and discrimination was so employers liable.

A

Tower boot

32
Q

Hart

A

The days have passed when the courts adopted a literal approach.

33
Q

Purposive approach advantages

A

Helps fulfil parliament’s intention,
Helpful when interpreting human rights law as this is all they use
judges expertise,
More sensible outcomes

34
Q

Purposive approach disadvantages

A

Too much power to judges
Difficult to find out what parliament debated and said
Uncertainty created in legal system
Judges should not be making laws in matters of public policy.