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What was common law? It was a system of law that was developed in England and used in the American colonies. This type of law was based on court decisions and custom rather than on statutes or written laws.
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What is common law?
Common law is a legal system that is based on precedent, or past decisions of courts. It is different from civil law, which is based on a codified set of laws. In common law systems, courts are responsible for interpreting the law, and this interpretation forms the basis for future decisions.
The history of common law
Common law is a body of law that is based on judicial precedent, or previous decisions by courts of law. Common law originated in England, and was later adopted in the United States. In common law systems, courts are vested with the power to make binding decisions on the basis of precedent. That is, if a court has previously decided a case that is similar to the one before it, the current court will follow the earlier decision.
Common law developed over time as judges began to issue decisions that were based on precedent, or earlier decisions. As more and more cases were decided, a body of common law began to emerge. Eventually, common law became the predominant system of law in England and the United States.
Today, common law is still an important source of law in many jurisdictions around the world.
The development of common law
In England, the Common Law was the law developed by the courts, as opposed to the law made by Parliament. The common law developed slowly over time as judges decided cases. Some of these decisions were later codified in statutes, but many were not. The common law was based on precedent, which means that judges would look to earlier decisions when making their own.
The English common law tradition began in the Middle Ages, and was adopted (in a somewhat adapted form) by the American colonies. American courts would often look to English precedent when making their own decisions, although they were not bound by it. After the American Revolution, many states decided to codify their own laws, which led to a decrease in the importance of common law. However, today many American courts still look to English precedent when there is no clear statutory rule on point.
The principles of common law
Common law was a set of principles and rules that were developed over time, mainly through court decisions. These principles and rules were used to settle disputes and determine punishments for crimes. Common law was not static; it evolved as society changed and new technologies emerged.
The benefits of common law
In the early days of English history, the Monarch would hear cases and dispense justice according to his or her own opinion of what was fair. This was not always consistent, and there was no formal system of precedent. If someone did not like the Monarch’s decision, they could take their case to another lord who might give a different verdict. This created a very chaotic system.
The benefits of common law are that it is based on precedent, so decisions are more consistent; it is written down, so everyone knows what the rules are; and it is applied by professional judges, so it is more objective.
The drawbacks of common law
While the common law system had many benefits, it also had some drawbacks. One of the biggest problems was that it was very slow to adapt to change. For example, if a new law was needed to deal with a new type of crime, it could take years or even decades for the courts to develop that law. Additionally, because different courts often came up with different interpretations of the law, there was often a great deal of confusion about what the law actually said.
The impact of common law
In Anglo-Saxon England, before the Norman Conquest of 1066, there was no single unified system of law. Each shire (county) had its own legal customs and procedures, which were administered by local courts under the supervision of the sheriff. In the centuries following the Conquest, however, a more centralized system gradually began to develop, under which royal justices traveled around the country hearing cases and issuing decisions that were binding on all lower courts. This system became known as common law, because it was based on custom rather than on statutory rules enacted by Parliament.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, common law became increasingly sophisticated, as judges began to formulate general principles that could be applied to a wide variety of circumstances. In the process, they laid down many of the basic rules that still govern English law today, such as the principle that people should only be punished for crimes that they have actually committed (the rule of mens rea), and that similar cases should be treated in a similar way (the rule of precedent).
By the end of the 13th century, common law had become so complex andsystematic that it was difficult for judges to remember all the relevant precedents. To solve this problem, they began to collect their decisions in written form. These collections, known as yearbooks, were eventually superseded by reports published by professional legal commentators known as reporters. The most famous reporter was Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634), who compiled a massive collection ofcommon law decisions known as The Institutes of the Lawes of England (1628).
The impact of common law has not been limited to England; it has also influenced the legal systems of many other countries, including those of North America, Australia, and New Zealand. In some jurisdictions (notably Quebec), common law coexists with civil law; in others (such as Louisiana), it has been replaced by civil law altogether.
The future of common law
The future of common law is unclear. Some scholars argue that it is no longer a viable system in the modern world, while others believe that it can be adapted to meet the needs of contemporary societies. Common law has its roots in medieval England, and was developed over time through the decisions of judges and lawmakers. In recent years, common law has come under criticism for being slow to adapt to change and for failing to protect the rights of minorities.
The advantages of common law
The advantages of common law systems are that they are flexible and adaptable to change, they are relatively efficient, and they promote social stability. Common law systems also tend to be more stable than civil law systems, because it is easier to change the laws of a small number of countries than the laws of a large number of countries.
The disadvantages of common law
While common law had many advantages, it also had some significant disadvantages. One of the most serious was that it tended to produce inconsistent decisions. This was because there was no central authority to ensure that all courts followed the same rules and precedent. As a result, two courts could reach completely different decisions on the same issue.
This lack of consistency made it very difficult for individuals and businesses to know what their rights and obligations were. It also made it hard for lawyers to give reliable advice to their clients.
Another disadvantage of common law was that it was slow to adapt to changing social and economic conditions. Because judges were reluctant to depart from precedent, new legal principles were slow to develop. This could have serious consequences when an old rule no longer made sense in the modern world but continued to be applied because of past court decisions.
