TheIntroduction

totheUKLegalSystem2021/12/21英國法律制度簡介(1)Whatislaw?Lawisasystemofrules,usuallyenforcedthroughasetofinstitutions.Lawshapespolitics,economicsandsocietyinnumerouswaysandservesastheforemostsocialmediatorinrelationsbetweenpeople.Writingin350

BC,theGreekphilosopherAristotledeclared,"Theruleoflawisbetterthantheruleofanyindividual."2021/12/22英國法律制度簡介(1)Trueorfalse:ThelawinScotlandisthesameasthelawinEngland.Englishlawhasevolvedgradually.MostofEnglishlawhasbeencodified.Thecommonlawwasdevelopedbythejudges.Thejudiciaryisnotindependentofthegovernment.ThecourtstructureoftheEnglishlegalsystemisthesamethroughoutthecountry.Allthecourtsinthesystemareofequalauthority.Englishjudgescollectevidenceinthecasesbeforethem.CharacteristicsofEnglishLaw(1)2021/12/23英國法律制度簡介(1)CharacteristicsofEnglishLaw(2)TheUnitedKingdomdoesnothaveasinglelegalsystem.(ThelawinScotlandwasinfluencedbyRomanLaw.)TheEnglishlegalsystemiscentralizedthroughacourtstructurewhichiscommontothewholecountry.Englishlawisbasedoncommonlawtradition—judge-madelaw,i.e.,thecommonlawwasdevelopedbyjudgesthroughcasedecisions.2021/12/24英國法律制度簡介(1)CharacteristicsofEnglishLaw(3)Thecourtstructureishierarchicalwiththehighercourtsandjudgeshavingmoreauthoritythanthelowerones.Judges’roleisapplyingandinterpretingthelaw(bothcaselawandstatutelaw).Judgesareindependentofgovernmentandpartiestodisputes—theytrytobeimpartial.Courtprocedureisaccusatorial/adversarialinwhichjudgesdonotinvestigatethecase.2021/12/25英國法律制度簡介(1)CommonlawCommonlawmeansitislawcommontothewholecountry—nationallawincontrasttolocallaw.Commonlawisbasedonjudicialdecisions(caselaw)incontrasttostatutelaw(whichismadebyParliament).2021/12/26英國法律制度簡介(1)Commonlawlegalsystemisbasedonprecedentsdifferentfromcivillawjurisdictionbasedoncivilcodes.Itcomprisesrulesdevelopedbythecommonlawcourtsincontrasttotherulesdevelopedbythecourtsofequity.2021/12/27英國法律制度簡介(1)OriginofcommonlawPriorto1066theNormanConquest,thelegalsystemwasdecentralized,eachlocalcourtsapplyingitsownlocalcustomarylaw.HenryIIwasworriedofhispowerdiminishedbybaronswhotriedtoruncourts,andsocreatedapermanentroyalcourt——King’sBench.TheKingsenttravelingjudgestohearcasesthroughAssizes(circuitcourts)applyingthelegalrulingsoftheroyalcourt.Thecommonlegalprincipleswereappliedtomostpartsoftheland.2021/12/28英國法律制度簡介(1)EquityEquitymeans'fair'or'just'inawidersenseoftheword.

ItonlyexistsincountrieswhichfollowtheEnglishcommonlawtradition.Inlaw,equityexiststorestorethenaturaljusticewithinthecourtroom,andfollowasetofrules,whichoperateonaharshlevel.

2021/12/29英國法律制度簡介(1)Whenthecommonlawfailedtogiveredress,equitycameaboutbecauseoftherigidandinflexibleapproachofthecommonlawjudgesinanumberofsituations.2021/12/210英國法律制度簡介(1)ExampleInmedievaltimes,ifAborrowed?50fromB,Amightberequiredtosignadocumentcalleda“bond”inwhichheagreedtorepaytheloan.Supposeherepaidtheloan,butfailedtohavethebondcancelled.Bthenclaimsrepaymentoftheloan,relyingonthebondasevidencethatthemoneywasowed.Whatwouldthecommonlawcourtdo?ThecommonlawcourtswouldrefusetolookbeyondtheevidenceofthebondandAwouldhavetorepaytheloanasecondtime.2021/12/211英國法律制度簡介(1)

Solutiontotheproblem:ThedisappointedlitigantspetitionedtheKingforextraordinaryrelief.TheKing,throughhisChancellorsetupCourtofChancerytodealwithpetitions.Thecommonlyusedequitableremediesarespecificperformanceandinjunction.Theequitablerightsandremediesaregivenonlyatthediscretionofthecourt,whereasanycommonlawrightorremedyisgivenasofright.2021/12/212英國法律制度簡介(1)Whenthereisconflictorvariancebetweencommonlawandequity,thelatterprevails→bywayofcommoninjunction(abolishedlater).Buttherulestays.In1875,courtsofcommonlawandtheCourtofChancerywereabolished→SupremeCourtofJudicatureestablished.2021/12/213英國法律制度簡介(1)CaseReportThejudgmentsinthehighercourtsarepublishedinaseriesoflawreports.Themostcommononesare:AllEnglandLawReports(AllER)AppealCases(AC)2021/12/214英國法律制度簡介(1)WeeklyLawReports(WLR)Chancery(Ch)Queen’sBench(QB)CriminalLawReports(CrimLR)King’sBench(KB)2021/12/215英國法律制度簡介(1)CaseCitation—CriminalCaseTrialsonindictmentareinthenameoftheQueen(asrepresentingtheState)→acriminalcase:Reg.v.whoeveritis→Reg.beingshortforRegina;whenthereisakingonthethrone,RexisusedinsteadofReg.RexandReginabothabbreviateR.tobeeasytoremember.Insomecriminalcases,theprivateperson’snameiscontained,incasestriedsummarily.2021/12/216英國法律制度簡介(1)CaseCitation—CivilCaseCivilcaseswillusuallybecitedbythenamesoftheparties,e.g.,Rylandsv.Fletcher.IftheQueen(asrepresentingtheGovernment)isapartyincivilcases,usuallycalled“TheQueen”,andsimilarlywiththeKing,e.g.,BritishCoalCorporationv.TheKing.2021/12/217英國法律制度簡介(1)Examples

→Reportedintheyear1970inAppealCasesatpage467.

→Reportedintheyear1917involume2ofKing’sBenchatpage822.

→Reportedintheyear1966involume1ofChanceryatpage216.

→Reportedintheyear1987involume3oftheAllEnglandLawReportsatpage678,inQueen’sBenchatpage972,andinvolume3oftheWeeklyLawReportsatpage537.

→Reportedintheyear1980intheCriminalLawReportsatpage107Bakerv.Willoughby[1970]AC467Armstrongv.Jackson[1917]2KB822Coxv.Green[1966]1Ch216Dayv.Grant[1987]3AllER678;[1987]QB972;[1987]3WLR537R.v.Hudson[1980]CrimLR1072021/12/218英國法律制度簡介(1)CasestudyMillerv.Jackson【1977】QB966Thefacts:Theplaintiffsownedahouseadjoiningacricketground.Crickethadbeenplayedonthegroundforalongtimebeforethehousehadbeenbuilt.Theplaintiffscomplainedofdamagecausedbycricketballsandlossofenjoymentoftheirproperty.Theybroughtanactionagainstthecricketclubforprivatenuisanceseekingdamages(thecommonlawremedy)andaninjunction(anequitableremedy)topreventcricketbeingplayedontheground.Thecricketclubarguedthatithaddoneeverythingthatwaspossibletostoptheballscomingintotheplaintiff’sgarden,includingerectingafifteenfoothighfence.

2021/12/219英國法律制度簡介(1)DecisionHeld:Thecricketclubwasliabletotheplaintiffsforprivatenuisance.AnawardofdamageswasmadeagainstthembutamajorityoftheCourtofAppealrefusedtograntaninjunctionpreventingtheplayingofcricket.2021/12/220英國法律制度簡介(1)ReasoningPerLordDenningMR:‘Thecourtwhendecidingwhethertoexerciseitsequitablejurisdictionandgrantaninjunctionmusthaveinmindthatitisunderadutytoconsiderthepublicinterest.Wheretheeffectofgrantinganinjunctionwouldbetopreventcricketbeingplayedonagroundwhereithadbeenplayedforseventyyearsorso,thespecialcircumstancesaresuchthatthepublicinterestmustprevailoverthehardshipoftheindividualhouseholderswhoweredeprivedoftheabilitytoenjoy,inpeaceandquiet,theirhouseandgardenwhilecricketwasbeingplayed.’2021/12/221英國法律制度簡介(1)LegalanalysisReadthefactsofthefollowingcaseandprepareashortjudgmentbasedonyourknowledgeofthemaximsofequity.Discussyourdecisionwithyourclassmatesandbepreparedtojustifyitbyreferencetothemaxims.Themaximsofequityisasfollows.2021/12/222英國法律制度簡介(1)Therearemanyequitablemaximsofwhichthefollowingarejustbriefexamples:Equitywillnotsufferawrongtobewithoutaremedy.Equitywillonlyintervenewhenthereisnoadequatecommonlawremedy.Equityfollowsthelaw.Equityrecogniseslegalrightsanddoesnottaketheplaceofthecommonlaw.2021/12/223英國法律制度簡介(1)Hewhocomestoequitymustcomewithcleanhands.Alitigantwhohasbehavedunfairlyinthedisputewillbedeniedanequitableremedy.Equitableremediesarediscretionary.Litigantsdonothavearighttoanequitableremedy.Thecourtswilldecidewhethertograntaremedyafterconsideringtheindividualcircumstancesofeachcase.2021/12/224英國法律制度簡介(1)D.&C.Buildersv.Rees[1965]3AllER837Thedefendantsowedtheplaintiffs￡482forbuildingwork.Thedefendantsconsistentlyrefusedtopaythemoneyuntil,knowingtheplaintiffswereinfinancialdifficulty,theyofferedtopay￡300tosettlethedebt.Theplaintiffsreluctantlyaccepted.Theythensuedfortherecoveryoftheoutstandingdebtof￡182.Theiractionwasbasedonthelawofcontractwhichallowsacreditortorecoverpaymentofadebtevenafteracceptingpartpaymentinfullsettlement.Thedefendantsclaimedtheprotectionoftheequitabledoctrineofpromissoryestoppelwhichinsomecircumstanceswillpreventapersonfromgoingbackonapromise—inthiscasethepromisetoaccept￡300asfullpaymentoftheRees’sdebt.2021/12/225英國法律制度簡介(1)ThedecisionTherelevantmaximinthiscaseishewhocomestoequitymustcomewithcleanhands.Thedefendantscouldnotbeprotectedbyanequitabledoctrineastheyhadactedinequitablybywithholdingpaymentuntiltheplaintiffswereinfinancialdifficulty.Theplaintiffswerenotheldtotheirpromisetosettlethedebtforthelessersumandthedefendantswereorderedtopaytheoutstandingamount.Thetwoothermaximsmentionedinthetextarealsorelevant:thatthereisnolegalrighttoequitableremedieswhicharegrantedatthediscretionofthecourts,andthatequityrecognizeslegalrights,inthiscasetheplaintiffs’legalrightatcommonlawtorecoverthefulldebt.2021/12/226英國法律制度簡介(1)UsefulWebsites(thisgivessummariesofrecentcases)(thisgivesaccesstothefulltextofstatutesorstatutoryinstruments)(thiscontainsreportsoftheEuropeanCourtofJustice)(linkstoavarietyofusefullegalwebsites)(givesawiderangeofwebsitesforallaspectsoflaw)2021/12/227英國法律制度簡介(1)ThemainsourcesofmodernUKlaw(a)LegislationoftheEuropeanUnion;andcasesdecidedbytheEuropeanCourtastotheinterpretationoftheEuropeanUnionlegislation;(b)LegislationbyParliamentorpowersdelegatedbyParliament;and(c)CaselawfromcasesdecidedbyjudgesinEnglish,ScottishorNorthernIrishcourts.2021/12/228英國法律制度簡介(1)Asthemajorsourceoflaw,legislationexistsintwoforms:1.Directlegislation,intheformofActsofParliament;ParliamenthasabsolutelegislativepowerthroughactsofParliamenttorevisesubstantiverulesoflaw,consolidateexistingenactments,codifythelaw,implementtreaties,andintroducesociallegislation.Legislation2021/12/229英國法律制度簡介(1)2.Delegatedlegislation,intheformofby-laws,statutoryinstrumentsandOrdersinCouncil.DelegatedlegislationisenactedbybodiesauthorizedbyParliament.2021/12/230英國法律制度簡介(1)CaseLawCommonlawisthelawbasedonjudicialdecisions;caselawThejudges’decisionisthelaw:caselawJudgesreachdecisionsbyfollowingjudicialprecedentCase-lawconsistsoftherulesandprinciplesstatedandacteduponbyjudgesingivingdecisions.2021/12/231英國法律制度簡介(1)CaseLawTheeffectofprecedent:——Judgemustconsiderprecedentaspartofmaterial(persuasive);——Judgemustdecidepresentcaseinsamewayaspreviouscaseunlessheorshecangiveagoodreasonnottodoso(persuasive);or——Judgemustdecidepresentcaseinsamewayaspreviouscase(evenifheorshehasagoodreasonnottodoso)(coerciveorbinding).2021/12/232英國法律制度簡介(1)ThebindingelementinprecedentRatiodecidendi:theprincipleoflawonwhichthedecisionofacaseisbased→bindingObiterdictum:otherstatementsmadebythejudgeorsaid“bytheway”→persuasiveReversingOverrulingDistinguishing2021/12/233英國法律制度簡介(1)PrecedentswhicharenotbindingPersuasiveprecedents:Precedentoperatesverticallydownwardssothathighercourtsarenotboundbydecisionsofcourtslowerinthehierarchicalsystem,whichareonlypersuasive.Precedentswhichhavebeenoverruled:AprecedentcanbeoverruledbyasubsequentdecisionofahighercourtorbyanActofParliament.Judicialoverrulingisretrospective,whereasoverrulingbyActisgenerallyprospectiveandoperatesfromthedatewhentheActcomesintoeffect.2021/12/234英國法律制度簡介(1)Overrulingmustbecontrastedwithreversing.Overrulingaffectstheruleoflawuponwhichtheoverruleddecisionwasbased,butnottherightsoftheparties.Adecisionmadetwentyyearspreviouslybyalowercourtcanoverruled,effectingaretrospectivechangeinthelaw,butthepositionoftheoriginallitigantsisnotaffected.Reversingiswhereadecisionofalowercourtisoverturnedonappealandwillaffectthepartiestothecasedirectly.2021/12/235英國法律制度簡介(1)Precedentswhichcanbedistinguished:Ifthecourtispreparedtofindamaterialdifferenceinthefactsofthecasebeforeitandtheprecedentitisrequestedtofollow,itcanrefusetobeboundbytheprecedent.Intheoryitispossibletodistinguishvirtuallyandprecedent,sincefactualsituationswillalmostneverduplicatethemselvesprecisely.Thepossibilityofdistinguishingisafurtherfactorensuringtheflexibilityandadaptabilityofthelawtochangingcircumstances.Caseswhichareindistinguishableareregardedasbeing“onallfours”withoneanother.2021/12/236英國法律制度簡介(1)Perincuriam

(throughlackofcare)precedentsTheCourtofAppealinYoungv.BristolAeroplaneCo.Ltd.[1944]KB718establishedthatitwasnotboundtofollowitsownearlierdecisionsiftheyhadbeenmadethroughlackofcare.Thereferstodecisionsmadewheresomerelevantstatutoryprovisionorprecedenthadnotbeenbroughttothecourt’sattention.Inthissensethedecisionsareflawed.2021/12/237英國法律制度簡介(1)RulesofInterpretationTheliteralrule,whichmeansthatawordmustbegivenitsliteralmeaning,i.e.,awordmustbeusedintheordinaryandnaturalmeaning.Thegoldenrule,operateswhentheliteralruleleadstoaninconsistency,anabsurdityorinconvenience,whichindicatesthatthewordsusedshouldnotbegiventheirordinarymeaning.Themischiefrule,asubsidiaryruleoranalternativetotheliteralrule,usedtoremedythe“mischief”thatthestatutefailedtoremedy.Thepurposiverule,

looksatthepurposeofaprovisionandtheapurposiveviewofitsmeaning.2021/12/238英國法律制度簡介(1)EnglishCourtsingeneralClassificationofthecourtsThecourtoffirstinstancev.theappellatecourt(i.e.courtsoforiginaljurisdictionv.courtsofappellatejurisdiction)—notsatisfactoryThecourtofciviljurisdictionv.thecourtofcriminaljurisdiction—notsatisfactoryeitherTheEuropeanCourtofJustice:notanE