Powerpoint with detailed summary for each module in first year Modern English Legal System (MELS). Separated by design for ease of reference. Powerpoint based on detailed lecture notes and readings - condensed into easy-to-read Powerpoint format to help with making flash cards, memorising, etc.
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,‘rules’ of interpretation
➔ the literal rule
◆ use plain meaning because they’re what the draftsman chose to employ
➔ the golden rule
◆ give words ordinary meaning in light of whole statute unless it produces inconsistencies
➔ the purposive rule
◆ find meaning through examining the general purpose of the section or its social context
➔ the mischief rule
◆ look at previous common law to find what draftsman sought to remedy
➔ are they really rules? label submits to the ‘tyranny of language’ and loses parliament’s intention
◆ Lord Templeman’s view in Re M (A Minor) (Care Order: Threshold Conditions) [1994]
➔ can be used singularly as well as in combination
◆ Oliver Ashworth (Holdings) Ltd v Ballard (Kent) Ltd [1999]
◆ e.g. golden and mischief rule in Royal College of Nursing v DHSS [1981] by Lord Diplock
,the literal rule
➔ words chosen by parliament show their intention
➔ ensures judge is interpreting statute and not making the law
◆ Lord Diplock in Duport Steel v Sirs [1980]
➔ could be fundamentalist as consequences of interpretation aren’t considered
➔ R v Harris (1836); interpretation of ‘stab, cut or wound’
◆ Words point towards use of a weapon so no offence in biting as teeth aren’t weapons
➔ Fisher v Bell [1961]; interpretation of ‘sell or hire or offer for sale or hire’
◆ Invitation to treat isn’t offer for sale so wasn’t guilty as didn’t prohibit exposing for sale
, the golden / purposive rule
➔ golden rule used when literal rule creates inconsistencies or absurdities
◆ not the same as literalism going against a judge’s sense of justice
◆ needs to be confusion in the internal context of the Act
➔ means words are used in context of statute as a whole
◆ done when there is a clear and gross anomaly, parliament wouldn’t have envisaged or accepted the presence of
this anomaly, the anomaly could be obviated without detriment to the legislative intent, and the language of the
statute allows for this modification
(Stock v Frank Jones (Tipton) Ltd [1978])
➔ R v Allen (1872); interpretation of ‘marry’ as ‘shall marry’/‘going through ceremony’
◆ literal interpretation wouldn’t include a void marriage to someone you’re closely related to
◆ logical absurdity because bigamous marriage needs a second legal marriage - not possible
➔ Re Sigsworth [1935]; interpretation of statute dealing with intestacy
◆ will let everything to son who was dead so was intestate so went to son who was dead, etc.
◆ found that statute wasn’t intended to let murderers profit despite not mentioning this
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