wElCOME TO RADHIKA LETCHUMI BLOGSPOT MAKANI: March 2014 TREAT YOURSELF

Wednesday, 26 March 2014

MY assignment : First Year LLB Law and how i managed to do it

 In high school, I just did what I had to do to get B’s and C’s. I could do that without doing my homework, so I didn’t do homework. I didn’t push myself to be an A student because as long as I passed and graduated, being the top student didn’t matter.
I did want to go to college, though, because when I was 6, I promised my dad that I would ( Its happenning ..) Having an education meant the same thing to both of us that I could use my knowledge to achieve my goals in life. One of my goals, partly because my Mom taught me to write ,we often spends time and money together in books ...and magazine ..okay Novel .. 
So thats how i learn myself to do My Law assignment . At first i was struggled to max, as its realy new thing for me to do .I just scared that im doing the whole thing wrongly. 
But i did managed to do it . 
CONTRACT 


Bob is a stamp dealer. On Monday he puts an advert on his website stating, ‘Utopian Penny Red Stamp, one only, £2,000’.

Later that day, Alan, a stamp collector, telephones Bob and says, ‘The Utopian Red for sale, I’ll give you £1,500 for it’.  Bob replies, ‘I cannot accept less than £1,750, but since you’ve been a good customer in the past, I won’t sell it to anybody else before Saturday. Let me have a reply by Friday if you want it.’  Alan says, ‘Thanks, that’s good of you – remind me to buy you a drink when I see you. I’ll think about it and let you know.’

At 7.30 am on Wednesday, Alan sends Bob an email saying, ‘Ok, I accept your offer to sell the Utopian Red for £1,750 – when can I pick it up?’  Unfortunately Bob’s email system diverts this email to his ‘junk mail’ folder, so that he does not read it.  At 2 pm on Wednesday Bob sells the stamp to Charles for £1,800.

On Thursday Alan’s wife meets Charles’s wife at the supermarket. Charles’s wife complains about the amount of money Charles has been spending on stamps, including a Utopian Red, which he has just bought from a dealer.  Alan’s wife reports this to Alan, who immediately sends a further email to Bob, confirming his previous message. Once he has sent this he notices an email from Bob in his inbox. In this email Bob says that he is having to withdraw his offer to Alan, because he has accepted a better offer from Charles.

Advise Alan.



Fair

   Podcast: the Fair    
The first question to consider in advising Alan is whether Bob’s advertisement is an offer. Advertisements can be offers, as is shown by Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co (1893). In this case, the Smoke Ball Co advertised its smoke balls as able to prevent the ‘flu, and offered £100 to anyone who caught the ‘flu after using them. Mrs Cargill used the balls but then caught the ‘flu. She sued the company. The court held that the advertisement was intended to be an offer, as shown by the company’s statement that it had deposited £1,000 with a bank to meet any claims. Mrs Cargill was successful in her claim. (1)


A case that is more relevant to Bob’s advertisement is Fisher v Bell (1961), in which the display of a flick-knife in window was held to be an invitation to treat rather than an offer. This approach was applied in Partridge v Crittenden (1968), where a newspaper advertiser offered bramblefinches for sale at 25 shillings each, and was charged with an offence under the Protection of Birds Act 1954 of offering a wild bird for sale, but he was not convicted because the court held that this advertisement was not an ‘offer’ but an ‘invitation to treat’, because the offeror did not have an unlimited supply of wild birds, and so couldn’t have intended to sell one to everyone who replied ‘accepting’ his ‘offer’. (2)


Assuming that Bob’s advertisement is an invitation to treat, the next point to consider is the telephone conversation between Alan and Bob. Alan says that he will pay £1,500 for the stamp, but Bob replies that he is only prepared to accept £1,750.  Alan has made an offer to buy, and Bob has responded with a counter offer.  Offers and counter offers are dealt with by Hyde v Wrench (1840), in which a farm was offered for sale at £1,000. A prospective buyer offered £900, which was rejected by the owner. The buyer later tried to accept the original offer to sell at £1,000. It was held that he could not, because his counter offer of £900 had destroyed the original offer, so that it could no longer be accepted. From this it can be seen that Alan and Bob have made an offer and counter offer, but that neither of these has been accepted as yet. (3)


Bob says that he will keep his offer to sell at £1,750 open until the end of the week. On Wednesday, Alan sends Bob an email accepting this offer. The rule for posted acceptances is that they take effect on posting, as is shown by Adams v Lindsell (1818). In this case a letter offering to sell wool was misdirected. The offerees replied as soon as they received the letter, but because of the delays the owners sold the wool to someone else. It was held that a contract was made as soon as the letter of acceptance was posted. This was because, otherwise, the parties could go on for ever exchanging letters waiting for confirmation that their last letter had been received.  The postal rule applies even where the letter is never delivered (Household Fire and Carriage Accident Insurance v Grant (1879)). So, if Alan had posted his acceptance to Bob, he would have a contract as soon as his letter was posted. But he sent an email rather than a letter and we must now consider whether the postal rule applies to emails. In Entores v Miles Far East Corporation (1955) Lord Denning held that making a contract by telex or fax was like shouting across a river. As a result the postal rule should not apply.  So the postal rule will not apply to emails, assuming that it is treated in the same way as telex and fax messages.  (4)


Alan’s email is never read by Bob, so it cannot operate as an acceptance, though Alan may argue that Bob should have checked his junk mail folder, because it is not uncommon for emails to be misdirected as spam when they are not, and Bob should have been looking out for replies to his advert, especially from Alan.  This is not a very strong argument, though, and I would not advise Alan to pursue it further. (5)


Another argument Alan could use is to say that his email should take effect once it is received on Bob’s computer, even though Bob does not read it. This would be using the decision in The Brimnes (1975), where it was suggested that instantaneous communications sent in office hours should be taken to be effective as soon as they are received.  (6)


On Wednesday afternoon Bob sells the stamp to Charles, so he cannot now sell it to Alan. He has not, however, withdrawn his offer to sell to Alan at £1,750. So Alan is still entitled to accept that offer, if he does so before he is informed of Bob’s sale to Charles, which would clearly imply that Bob has withdrawn his offer to Alan.  An offer can generally be revoked at any time until it has been accepted. This was established by Payne v Cave (1789).  The revocation must be communicated to be effective. This was held in Byrne v van Tienhoven (1880), which was concerned with a revocation sent by telegram. It was held that it only took effect when it was communicated to the offeree, not when it was sent. (7)


We must now consider whether Alan’s second email, again accepting Bob’s offer to sell the stamp to him at £1,750, is effective before Bob has revoked his offer to Alan.


Before he sends this email he is told by his wife of her conversation with Charles’ wife to the effect that Charles has just bought a Utopian Red stamp from a dealer. This is a very vague statement and it should not be regarded as having any direct legal effect, though clearly it raises Alan’s concern that Bob may not have received his previous acceptance, and that is why he sends his second email.  Once he has sent this he notices an email from Bob in his inbox. In this email Bob says that he is withdrawing his offer to Alan, because he has accepted a better offer from Charles. Because Alan only reads this email after he has sent his second acceptance to Bob, it comes too late to withdraw Bob’s offer. Alan has already accepted, and so has a contract for the stamp. (8) He can claim the stamp from Charles, because he started negotiations with Bob before Charles had any dealings with Bob, and so his contract should take priority. (9)


As we have seen, the dealings between Bob and Alan have probably resulted in a contract, which Alan can enforce, but the final result would have to be determined by the court. (10)



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Bob is a stamp dealer. On Monday he puts an advert on his website stating, ‘Utopian Penny Red Stamp, one only, £2,000’.

Later that day, Alan, a stamp collector, telephones Bob and says, ‘The Utopian Red for sale, I’ll give you £1,500 for it’.  Bob replies, ‘I cannot accept less than £1,750, but since you’ve been a good customer in the past, I won’t sell it to anybody else before Saturday. Let me have a reply by Friday if you want it.’  Alan says, ‘Thanks, that’s good of you – remind me to buy you a drink when I see you. I’ll think about it and let you know.’

At 7.30 am on Wednesday, Alan sends Bob an email saying, ‘Ok, I accept your offer to sell the Utopian Red for £1,750 – when can I pick it up?’  Unfortunately Bob’s email system diverts this email to his ‘junk mail’ folder, so that he does not read it.  At 2 pm on Wednesday Bob sells the stamp to Charles for £1,800.

On Thursday Alan’s wife meets Charles’s wife at the supermarket. Charles’s wife complains about the amount of money Charles has been spending on stamps, including a Utopian Red, which he has just bought from a dealer.  Alan’s wife reports this to Alan, who immediately sends a further email to Bob, confirming his previous message. Once he has sent this he notices an email from Bob in his inbox. In this email Bob says that he is having to withdraw his offer to Alan, because he has accepted a better offer from Charles.

Advise Alan.



Good

   Podcast: the Good    
This problem raises issues in relation to the formation of contracts. A valid contract in English law requires a matching ‘offer’ and ‘acceptance’.  In answering this problem it will be necessary to consider what constitutes an ‘offer’ and an ‘acceptance’, when these are communicated, and whether an offer can be withdrawn. Alan wishes to claim that he has a valid contract for the purchase of the Utopian Red stamp from Bob. To be successful he will need to prove that he has accepted a valid offer from Bob, before that offer was withdrawn. (1)


The first ‘communication’ to be considered is Bob’s advertisement.  There is no doubt that the courts would treat this as an ‘invitation to treat’ rather than an offer. The situation is similar to that of Partridge v Crittenden (1968), where a magazine advertisement for bramblefinches was held not to constitute the offence of ‘offering’ wild birds for sale.  One of the main reasons for the decision was that the advertiser did not have an unlimited supply of the birds, and so could not have intended to contract with everyone who replied to the advert. Similarly here, Bob only has the one stamp and so, in the absence of a statement such as ‘first come, first served’ (as in the American case of Lefkowitz v Great Minneapolis Surplus Store (1957)), he must be intending his advert simply to encourage potential customers to make offers to buy the stamp, which he may then accept or reject. (2)


Alan’s telephone call to Bob is an offer to buy the stamp. But he is only prepared to pay £1,500, which is less than Bob is prepared to accept. Bob says that he would be prepared to sell at £1,750. This is clearly a counter offer.  A counter offer has the effect of making the previous offer no longer available for acceptance – Hyde v Wrench (1840) – so Alan’s original offer to buy at £1,500 is no longer of any significance.  More important here is Bob’s statement that he will, in effect, keep his offer to Alan open until Friday. Is this binding on Bob? The general rule is that an offer can be revoked at any point before it has been accepted, provided the revocation is communicated to the offeree. This was established in Payne v Cave (1789).  In Routledge v Grant (1828) it was confirmed that this rule applies even where the offeror has promised to keep the offer open.  This is because the offeree will generally have provided no consideration for the promise.  If the offeree “buys” the promise, by agreeing to pay, say £5, in exchange for the offeror’s agreement to keep the offer open, then the promise would be enforceable. Does Alan provide any consideration?  The reason that Bob gives for keeping the offer open is that Alan has been a good customer in the past. This cannot be consideration, however, because it is ‘past’ (as was, for example, the alleged consideration in Re McArdle (1951)) and is, in any case, probably too vague. Alan offers to buy Bob a drink, but it is unlikely that a court would regard this as sufficient to indicate a clear mutual intention to make a binding agreement. It seems more like a social arrangement.  The most likely conclusion, then, is that Bob’s promise to keep the offer open is not binding on him. (3)


On Wednesday, Alan tries to accept Bob’s offer by sending him an email, but it seems that this email is never read by Bob. Can it, nevertheless, be regarded as a valid acceptance of Bob’s offer? There is no direct authority on when email communications take effect in the context of contractual negotiations, and the Electronic Commerce (EC) Directive) Regulations 2002, which might be expected to assist, apply only to web-based contracts and explicitly do not apply to contracts made by exchange of emails. As a result, the point must be argued by analogy with other forms of communication.  If email were treated in the same way as the post, then it could be argued that Alan’s acceptance took effect as soon as it was sent, applying the rule derived from Adams v Lindsell (1818).  In Entores v Miles Far East Corporation (1955), however, it was held that “instantaneous” forms of communication (in that case, telex) should be regarded as taking effect when they are received rather than when they are sent, and this has been confirmed in later cases, such as Brinkibon Ltd v Stahag Stahal (1983). It seems likely that email would be treated as falling into the category of instantaneous communication, so that Alan’s acceptance will not be taken as effective at the point when he sent it. (4)


The problem is that none of the cases determine precisely when an acceptance by means of instantaneous electronic communication should be regarded as effective – is it when it is received on the offeror’s machine (in this case, Bob’s computer), or when it is read by the offeror, or at some other point in between? In Brinkibon Ltd v Stahag Stahal (1983) the House of Lords refused to lay down any universal rule, holding that it must depend on the intentions of the parties, and the surrounding circumstances of the particular case. It seems, however, that business communications sent during office hours should normally be regarded as effective as soon as they are received on the recipient’s machine (The Brimnes (1975)).  If that is the case, then Alan may have a good argument that his acceptance of Bob’s offer was effective on the Wednesday morning, so that he would be able to sue Bob for breach of contract for not selling it to him.  His damages would be based on how much more than £1,750 it would cost to acquire a Utopian Red from another source. (5)


If, however, the view is taken that Alan’s email of Wednesday morning is ineffective because it has not been read by Bob, what are the effects of the subsequent events? The significant actions are the sale of the stamp by Bob to Charlie at 2 pm on Wednesday; the revocation email sent by Bob to Alan at some point on Wednesday or Thursday; the communication to Alan by his wife of her conversation with Charlie’s wife, which may be taken to indicate that Bob has sold the stamp to Charlie; and finally, Alan’s second ‘acceptance’ email, sent on Thursday.  The question that needs to be determined is whether Bob has effectively withdrawn his offer to Alan before Alan has accepted it by means of this Thursday email. (6)


As we have noted above, the general rule is that an offer can be withdrawn at any point before acceptance.  Such revocation must, however, be communicated to the offeree (Byrne v van Tienhoven (1880)). Has there been such communication by Bob? The first possibility is the communication via Alan’s wife. Indirect communication of a revocation by a third party is possible, as is shown by Dickinson v Dodds (1876). In this case, a third party, who was involved in the offeror’s business, told the offeree that the offeror had decided to sell certain property, which he had offered to the offeree, to someone else. It was held that the offeree, having received this information from a reliable source, was no longer able to accept the offer. Its withdrawal had been effectively communicated via the third party. Would the same view be taken here? Alan might legitimately point out that information passed on via a casual conversation in a supermarket, and which does not even mention Bob’s name as the seller to Charlie, is rather different from the specific inside information provided in Dickinson v Dodds. The source in this case is not necessarily reliable, and there is always the possibility that the sale was by another dealer.  On this basis, Alan has reasonable grounds to claim that his second email should be regarded as effective, unless Bob’s withdrawal email takes precedence. (7)


It is at this point that timings become crucial. As has been argued above, Alan’s second email is only of any relevance if his first acceptance was ineffective because the court takes the view that emailed acceptances only take effect on being read by the offeror.  The same rule must, therefore, apply to his second email – it will be effective when read by Bob.  Similarly, Bob’s emailed revocation of his offer only takes effect when read by Alan. The determining question will, therefore, be whether Bob read Alan’s second acceptance email before Alan read Bob’s revocation. We are not given sufficient information to determine these timings. A review of the relevant computer files to show which email was opened first will be the only way to determine the outcome. If Bob opened Alan’s email first, then Alan’s acceptance is effective and he will be able to sue for breach; if Alan opened Bob’s email first, then the revocation is effective, and Alan will be without a remedy. (8)


In conclusion, Alan may well be able to argue that he has a contract with Bob on the basis of his first acceptance email, assuming that this is taken to be effective once it has been received on Bob’s computer. If that assumption is incorrect then, on the basis that Dickinson v Dodds can be distinguished, the rights of the parties will depend on the exact timings of the last two emails, and who read which email first.  (9)

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COMMON LAW REASONING - QUESTION

’There was a time when it was thought almost indecent to sggest that judges make law –they only declare it .Those with the taste for fairy tales seem to have thought that in some alladin’s cave there is hidden the common law in all its splendor and that on a judge’s appointment there descends on him knowledge of the magic words ‘’open sesame’.. We do not believe in fairy tales anymore. (lord reid :the judge as law maker )
do judges make law ? Discuss with reference to decided cases.
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One of the greatest ironies of American history is the influence of Sir William Blackstone through his declaratory theory. It is interesting on his declaratory theory describing the fact that judges do not make laws they simply discover and declare what the law has always been. [1] As mention earlier , Sir William Blackstone suggest that judges are not making law but merely by precedent,discover and declare the law in a way it should be. His theory thus preserving the supremacy of parliament. He defined judges as law finder ,as they must act to what parliament provide and therefore judges must not be law creator . According to[2] Lord Reid he viewing declaratory theory as a fairy tale that its merely a set up that no one believes . The judges make a law within narrow limit in developing or creating new law is unavoidable to do justice . He successfully explains overulling of the theory.
There have some supporting arguments in favour of Sir Wiliam Blackstone , as followed .Firstly , allowing unelected judges will create inconsistency as it contradicted to principle of democracy. Besides that  Farrar one of law specialist argues that its too risky by allowing judges interfering law making decisions as they will be indirectly attached with political field. Other than that ,[3] Lord Devlin states that judges should not become social reformers  as its will decrease the quality of law as they tend to think in improving the law for society . This would absolutely makes judges not administering the law fairly.
Why are judges not to be law creators but only can be law finders ? well ,judges were selected for privileged background and they are not fully attached to social environment. They do not take account of economic and social issues or any implications of their decisions. The judges must leave public related issued for the government as its not their field to consider.

So who are judges and whats their role in justice system. Well ,judges played crucial roles in judiciary as they are to determine the freedom of the judiciary, the symbol of justice and are the one in charge of apply the law in the case before them. Nevertheless, there is an issue of whether judges do make law. In other words ,there has been questioned on whether judges merely law finders or are they really law-makers ? I would said that on occasions it might be that their interpretation of law makes’ own law.
In the legal system, the primary role of judges is to apply the existing law into the case he is deciding currently. So, judges need to find any pre-existing law and finalizing their decision. The judges must act as law finders instead of lawmakers. They have to find the law and not to enact the law. This is due to the fact that by the doctrine of separation of powers, judiciary shall not interfere with the role of the legislature. [4]So, judges shall not interfere with supremacy of the Parliament, which is supreme in law making decisions.
In spite of that , as the common law developing through times ,so does the functions of judges . Instead of doing their job as a law finders where they were provided with numerous sources of law in deciding cases but they becoming the law makers eventually . This possibly because of their interpretation occasionally creates own law. Those judges somehow have good knowledge of law that they makes law instead of applying the law.
If I were ask, do judges makes law ? Well ,yes judges do makes law as [5]Lords Browne Wilkinson said in case of Kleinwort Benson v Lincoln city council . ‘’The theoretical position has been that judges do not make law or change law ,they discover and and declare the law which is thought the same.according to this theory when the earlier decisions is influence law is not changed ;it is true nature that it disclosed having existed in that form all along…’’ .In truth judges makes law and whole common law is about judges made law .

Determining the boundaries of judicial law making is partly a doctrinal and epic a constitutional question. In the case of McLoughlin Appellant v O’ Brian, Lord Scarman  took a middle course, he said; "The objective of judges is the formulation of principles; policy is the prerogative of Parliament." He is on the view  that  the duty of a common law judge is to conform the principles of law and  allow a decision to be made on the facts under discussion. This may involve creation of new law.  Whatever the case, judicial reasoning begins from a ‘baseline of existing principles’. Judicial interpretation keeps  the common law ‘flexible’ and up to date and put off to parliament on those issues with which the courts are not well prepared to deal with.
The typical ground of the argument lies on the fact that it hard to see precisely where the dividing line lies between principle and policy.

 In any case, [6]Lord Scarman notes in his judgement “The real risk to the common law is not its movement to cover new situations and new knowledge but lest it should stand shill, halted by a conservative judicial approach....”
While Lord Scarman’s statement  is makes complete sense, the problem is that the  judicial creativity inherently causes uncertainty in the law. Lord Scarman argues that justice can demand a degree of loss of certainty in the law. However, the law has to respond to advances in medical science and technology and changes in life styles and social circumstances.
In case of  R v R is perhaps one of the best examples of judicial creativity in development of common law . The House of Lords determined that a husband could be held guilty for raping his wife. This involved a particularly bold interpretation of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976, which would otherwise seem to preserve the husband’s exception to a charge of rape. It may be argued that Lord Lane’s unique approach is equivalent to judicial legislation.
This case did not create a new offence merely declared that it had always been an offence.  Although no one could have known it was an offence. 

On the other hand, R v Clegg case  suggests a kind of situation in which judges will not legislate. D fired several shots at a car whilst he was on check point duty in Northern Ireland. The car was approaching the checkpoint at speed and did not appear to be going to stop. One of the passengers was killed and Clegg was charged and convicted of murder.

It was argued that the Houseof lord  should make new law by creating a new qualified defence  that would be in favour to a soldier or police officer acting in the course of his duty. The duty of using excessive force in self-defence, or to prevent crime, or to effect a lawful arrest.  By doing so it would reduce murder in such cases to manslaughter.
Lord Lloyd, whilst not contrary  to judicial law-making .  Besides this case ,  [7]R v R  can be as a good example of it  , he said that he had no doubt that they should decline from law making case since the reduction of murder to manslaughter clearly  matter for Parliament, and not the courts.
The issue of self defence (and therefore excessive force) did not strictly arise in this case as when the shot that killed the girl was fired, the vehicle in which she was travelling had passed Clegg. However, they did review the law on excessive force. 

A variation on the theme can be found in C v DPP. The case concerned the, presumption that a child between 10 and 14 was incapable of committing a crime. The House of lords refused to abolish the rule, arguing that although it was not consistently applied, it  was necessary for parliament to legislate. This presumption was abolished by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 . From that , Lord Lowry gave the following guidelines for judicial law-making in deciding this  . First , judges should beware of imposing a remedy where the solution to a problem is uncertain .Secondly ,they should be cautious about making changes if Parliament has discard  chance dealing with problem or has constitute while leaving the problem unsolved.

Further more, in case Of [8]Airedale Nhs Trust V Bland [1993] HL  is a  case that raised three typical aspet such as moral, ethical and legal issues and role to be played by medicine in keeping alive someone in a persistent vegetative state. On the facts of the case, the court had to determine whether or not the patient’s treatment could be continued. So ,medical opinion was asenting that there was no hope of recovery ,therefore Court found that there could be no aid to the patient of continuing treatment.
Lord Browne Wilkinson took the opportunity to consider the correct role of the courts in such a abounding area. A judge thus must work with ‘existing laws’. Although there were no satisfactory guidelines within the existing law, a judge was nonetheless inappropriate to consider the wider scope of decision in the given case. Given the matter , Lord Browne Wilkinson considered that it was compulsory  that moral, social and legal issues raised by the case should be considered the basic principle.
It was lawful for D's doctors to stop feeding him synthetically .  Even the court had no option but to make a decision one way or the other.

In conclusion , i would say that the judges do make law ,occasionally when their own interpretation of law creates new law. A judge's function is to declare the law and it is observed by others as if he is declaring the existing law with modifications or changing the law itself. Therefore it is correct to state that both the declaratory theory and law making theory as stemming from a judge. The declaratory theory has no foundation in logic or in fact but , it continues to be propounded as doctrine by many judges and lawyers Hence theory that judge made law is advantageous leading to the theory that every principle emerging out of a decision is capable be changed though it may have been settled for quite a long time. [9]However, this view is no longer accepted. There are three reasons for the continuiance  of the declaratory theory. In the first place, it appealed in the separation of powers. Secondly, it concealed the fact that judge-made law is retrospective in its effect and finally, when the judges face with new, unusual, or different point, they tend to present as if the answer is provided by the common law.

References
[1]  One scholar has gone so far as to say that "Blackstone was very extreme in his anti-American bias, and he appeared among the most vociferous advocates of a harsh and uncompromising attitude. . . . It was this narrow and uncompromising outlook which led to the break with the American colonies." Chroust, Blackstone Revisited, 17 U. Kan. City L. Rev. 24, 28-29 (1948)
2http://sixthformlaw.info/01_modules/mod2/2_4_law_reform/22_judges_declaratory_theory.htm
3 http://sixthformlaw.info/01_modules/mod2/2_4_law_reform/22_judges_declaratory_theory.htm
4 Commonlaw and reasoning study manual –brickfields asia college under chapter judges do mkes law
5 English Legal System Gary Slapper And David Kelly  Q And Answer
6 Commonlaw and Reasoning Study Manual –Brickfields Asia College Under Chapter Judges Do Makes Law
7 UK Law Online “The Sources Of The Legal Systems” Accessed December 15, 2007 < Http://Www.Leeds.Ac.Uk/Law/Hamlyn/Sls.Htm
8 Commonlaw and Reasoning Study Manual –Brickfields Asia College Under Chapter Judges Do Makes Law
9 http://definitions.uslegal.com/d/declaratory-theory/




[1]  One scholar has gone so far as to say that "Blackstone was very extreme in his anti-American bias, and he appeared among the most vociferous advocates of a harsh and uncompromising attitude. . . . It was this narrow and uncompromising outlook which led to the break with the American colonies." Chroust, Blackstone Revisited, 17 U. Kan. City L. Rev. 24, 28-29 (1948)

[2] http://sixthformlaw.info/01_modules/mod2/2_4_law_reform/22_judges_declaratory_theory.htm
[3] http://sixthformlaw.info/01_modules/mod2/2_4_law_reform/22_judges_declaratory_theory.htm
[4] Commonlaw and reasoning study manual –brickfields asia college under chapter judges do mkes law
[5] English Legal System Gary Slapper And David Kelly  Q And Answer
[6] Commonlaw and Reasoning Study Manual –Brickfields Asia College Under Chapter Judges Do Makes Law
[7] UK Law Online “The Sources Of The Legal Systems” Accessed December 15, 2007 < Http://Www.Leeds.Ac.Uk/Law/Hamlyn/Sls.Htm

[8] Commonlaw and Reasoning Study Manual –Brickfields Asia College Under Chapter Judges Do Makes Law
[9] http://definitions.uslegal.com/d/declaratory-theory/


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CRIMINAL : 

The defence of insanity needs to be recast as it is  outdated and unjust and in urgent need of reform. Critically evaluate the rules governing insanity as defence in criminal case.
The defence of insanity is needs to recast and as it is outdated and unjust , and needs to reform. According to the criminal law, the defence of insanity is when a defendant tries to prove not criminally liable for any act resulting crimes , because the defendant was proved  legally insane at the time when crime was committed. Over the years, academics have identified many damages and uncertainties surrounding the defence of insanity .
Today, the insanity defense has become a major issue within the legal system. Although it’s a rarely used defence in legal system ,but it raises a fundamental question about criminal liability and also functions of criminal law in handling violent cases .  The importance of this defence was reduced  by  The Introduction Of Diminished Responsibility Defence 1957 And  The Abolition Of Deadth Penalty 1965.
This defence was often used in the history of criminal cases basely on the insanity plead. I would like to view  some example insanity defence of cases that gives out important criminal element .This insanity  defence available to any crime such in case Horseferry Road Magistrates’ Court Ex Parte K (1996).  However  this defence is not available in strict liability crimes  that has no element of Mens rea ,such as in  DPP v H (1997).   Besides that , the importance of medical evidence was more stresses in the case of Walton (1978),such that the judge decides that the evidence support

the defence  ,then the verdict of the trial is for the jury to determine whether he is insane or not .
The history of this insanity defence   was established in 1843, where a Scottish woodcutter named Daniel M’Naughten murdered the secretary of the British prime minister in his attempt to assassinate the prime minister. M’Naughten had gone after the prime minister because he thinks that the prime minister had caused many of his misfortunes.During his trial, witnesses testified that M’Naughten was not normal or in other words they claimed him mentaly unstable .However  M’Naughten was acquitted as he was found “not guilty by reason of insanity.”
The rules of M Naughten was laid down as authoritative law since in case of  Sullivan (1984) . It was laid down on that case that there must be presumption of sanity  and the burden of proof is on the defence even in balance probabilities. In other words , the defendant must be presumed innocent until proven guilty under the balance of probability.Generally the rules can be divided into three distinct elements consisting , defect of reason , disease of mind and finally the  nature and quality of the act .
The  phrase defect of reason was explained in Clarke (1972) , that this element means that the  defendant was deprived of the power of reasoning. It did not apply to those who retained the power of reasoning but for the one in moments of confusion or low level of attention in which fail to use their powers to the maximum.
It is important to understand  that there is a difference between being legally insane and being medically insane.  For the courts, the question of insanity is decided as a matter of law according to the ordinary rules of interpretation, procedure and evidence.  Over the years,the judiciary considered various mental states when dealing with the question of a disease of the mind. Such  in R v Kemp [1956],  the defendant suffered from arteriosclerosis, such that the court held, hardening of the arteries may cause damages to the brain cells which may be  "disease of the mind" but the physical state of brain irrelevant. It is whether the mental faculties of reason, memory and understanding are impaired or absent; in this case it was the flow of blood that affected the mind, not destruction of brain cells. In other words, a disease of mind does not refer to brain functioning .
The defence of insanity only concerned with internal factors which include medical conditions such as diabetes.  In R v Hennessy [1989] the defendant was charged with taking a vehicle without consent.  He was a diabetic , despite needing to take insulin everyday, but not taken it for two or three days before the incident.  He was also suffering from stress and  claimed that as a result of all this he did not know what he was doing, and so he did not have the requisite mens rea.  The judge was of the opinion that this was a disease of the mind within the M’Naghten Rules and thus the defendant was insane.  The defendant then changed his plea to guilty and appealed against the trial judge’s ruling on insanity.  The Court of Appeal upheld the trial judge’s ruling,that hyyperglycaemia caused by the lack of insulin was a disease of the mind within the M’Naghten Rules.  The defendant was, at the material time, insane.
 The case is an excellent illustration of how the test of insanity is legal and not medical, as a diabetic would not in most circumstances be considered insane.  It is also a good example of how, in law, a person can be temporarily insane.  In other words the law takes the view that it is possible for a person to be sane most of the time but suffer a bouts of insanity.  The M’Naghten Rules only require a defendant to be insane at the time of committing the act.
Besides that, the Post Epileptic was also act as insanity defence,such in case  Sullivan,the defendant was suffering from a seizure due to Psychomotor Epilepsy when he kicked a man in the head and body. He was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. Medical professionals claimed that Sullivan was suffering from the third stage of the seizure, in which he was unconscious and unable to control his movements. The defence put forward non-insane automatism, arguing that the defendant had acted unconsciously and involuntarily in kicking the victim and was therefore not insane. However, since the defendant’s action  was marked by ‘the discharge of electrical impulses into the brain which had reacted on centres controlling its functions, was classified as a disease of the mind.
Lord Diplock stated that, “it matters not whether the aetiology of the impairment is organic, as in epilepsy, or functional, or whether the impairment itself is permanent or is transient and intermittent, provided   that it subsisted at the time of the commission of the act. The purpose of the… defence of insanity… has been to protect society against recurrence of the dangerous conduct. The duration of a temporary suspension of the mental faculties… particularly if, as in Sullivan’s case, it is recurrent, cannot… be relevant to the application by the courts of the M’Naghten rules.
Those cases above illustrated that the defence of insanity can be raised in internal malfunctions that cause defect of reasons although the M’nagthen rules governing the defence of insanity but its only be applied in some cases . Such in case of parks (1992) the m’nagthen rules was rejected in which sleepwalking was found to be sleep disorder. However for the traumatic stress disorder  for the case of rabey (1980) the m’nagthen rules were applied .
In uk , the post traumatic stress disorder seems to fit the term of insanity and used as defence in many cases, such as T (1990).
Moving onto the next element in the defence of insanity  , is the nature and the quality of the act. It seems that the defendant must not understand the nature and the quality of the act. Which gives meaning as to the defendant must  not realise that his act was wrong .This must be defect of reason , and does not include morally wrong.  To what extent was the morally wrong means? This problem was exposed in R v Windle, where a strict approach was taken towards the wrongness limb.  In that case, the defendant killed his suicidal wife by giving her a dose of some 100 aspirin tablets. When he was arrested, he told ‘the police that he supposed he would be hanged for it. Well , in M’naghten the Law Lords said that if defendant knew at the time of commiting the actus reus of a crime , or he realise his action are contrary to the law , so there will be no defence available for his liability . This principle was also followed in the case of Johnson, where the trial judge withdrew the insanity defence from the jury. Psychiatrists in Windle agreed that at the time of the offence, the defendant knew that what he had done was against the law.
As mentioned earlier , M Naghten acts as guidelines in judgements and refference to some cases. Some situations covered as shield but some are not covered by the M naghten rules. Such in kopsch (1925) an irresistible impulse is no longer accepted as ground for insanity. In this case the court recognise two grounds :
- the difficulty to distinguishing between an impulse caused by insanity and by motivated anger or jealousy
-view on the harder the impulse the greater need for a deterrent.
In 1953, the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment suggested, an alternative method  to replace the M Naghten  rules by, adding a third limb where the defendant should be considered insane if at the time of his act he ‘was incapable of preventing himself from committing it…’. The Law Commission’s Draft Criminal Code (1989) if enacted would replace the term ‘insanity’ with ‘mental disorder’.
Despite the fact of this negativeness ,the defence of insanity surely in  urgent need of reforms.
The law commissions of draft criminal code (1989) would replace if enacted ,the term insanity ‘with mental disorder . As stated in clausa 35 (1) of the code provides as follows :
‘’ A mental disorder verdict shall be returned if the defendant is proved to have committed an offence but it is proved on the balance of probabilities that he was at the time suffering from severe mental illness or severe mental handicap. ‘’
Wherease for the ‘’severe mental iilness ‘’ which has one or more of the following lasting impairments of intellectual functions or failure of memory ,or even disorder thinking. 
Next would be ‘’severe mental handicap ‘’ where a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind. Such as a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning ,example Downsyndrome .
From above we can notice that the reform more emphasis on mental illness rather than a ‘’disease of mind’’ .
So to conclude  ,the ‘exceptional and inappropriate position in the defence of insanity has led to many criticisms of the M’Naghten Rules. The rules include epileptics and diabetics, but not the people who think what they do is morally right but legally wrong, as well as psychopaths who probably should be deemed as insane. The flexibility of disposal created by the 1991 Act has made the insanity defence more adaptable and approachabl ,however, the fact that many are still reluctant to use the defence indicates that perhaps the defence should be used in exceptional cases only.
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PUBLIC LAW
For karl marx ,law ,religion,art ,morality and literature are the ‘opium of the masses’. In other words ,if he were asked his views about the rule of law he would say that its’s a mere construct devised by the bourgeois class to subjugate the proletariat.

            Karl Marx is a well known philosopher who posited class struggle in the society . If he were asked about the rule of law , he would thinks that it’s a mere construct devised by bourgeois to subjugate the proletarians .In other words , he  viewing that law being misused by the upper class ,bourgeois to take control on the working class which is proletarians . [1]His  ideas about law were expressed mainly in the Communist Manifesto’, the book which he published in 1848. The book contained , that [2]“law, morality, religion, are so many bourgeois prejudices, behind which lurk in ambush just as many bourgeois interests.”
 The highlight content of the book were mainly about his criticism on the operation of government under the rule of law as nothing more than a mere expression of “bourgeois” to act arrogantly. Which gives meaning that the rule of law were used as a tool of power just to governed the working class known as proletarians by the bourgeois.
  Who are this bourgeoise and proletariat ? Well according what i researched [3]Marx defined the power of some groups in society by setting up basic map structure consist of two main figure named as ‘base” and “superstructure”. [4]This base is consist of the working class  (the proletariat), while the superstructure (bourgeoise) as the capitalist class.  Generally there is [5]some fact in the nineteenth century  shows that society being invaded or going through dictatorship by bourgeoise which inevitably produce self destruction.
The main aim of Marx is to find equality between the  bourgeois and the proletariat  but what he  found was that this two different classes producing such disturbing  environment or in other words  ‘’ totally unstable ‘’ which he thinks might cause rise against the system. So he believed that criticism will trigger a revolution because  Marx thinks that his critiscm would awaken the working class to protest for their rights and their liberism against oppression of bourgeoise . Personaly ,i thinks that if there are no peace amongst societies ,there wont be a stable operation of law to conduct.
Practically Marx thinks that the doctrine of rule of law is not about judges makes  law through rules of precedent or social influence but on how the law been  interpret and played. I would said that Marx view about law is partialy undeniable as society during that time were obsessed in ruling the proletariat class just to earned substantive amount of  wages and high profile life style .
 As metioned earlier , Marx viewed law’s  as tool of power which monopolize by the upper class by invading the lower class  and these two class , has  involved in the struggle for power.  [6]Marx theory  gives ideas of insurrection  to societies that allow the bourgeoisie to make moral decisions and creating laws as unstable societies .  His many ideas were unknowingly gives alot of profits to society such as the subjugation of proletarians were prevented eventually .
There are different aspect of his approach in defining the structure of his imaginary society of what he wants the society to be , and the aspect as follow in  religion , philosophically and also morally .[7]In  going through this discussion about Marxism, it is necessary to further read on his religious dimensions. [8]Its a truth that  Marxism is not a god believer , as his thinks that this universe should own and governed by individual practically  and should not influence by existent of super power beyond man limit known as god  or paranormal power . As a matter of fact, Marxism believes and confidently defined  a complete worldview in [9]explaning the birth of the universe and some  theory concerning the final destiny of humankind which looks realy daring and challenging during the time .
  Marx concluded  that the final stage of human evolution actually go beyond the range of  class struggle, when the ‘’eschatological consummation of global communism is at last achieved.  [10]Even some philosopher  such as David Koyzis had compared  Marxist theory about this with what contained in bible  ’ Book of Revelation. Such he said that there are may morals of victory achieved by  Jesus Christ but theory of Marxism teaches the proletarian to fight for their rights and not so against the history.
 Besides that , if we were to look for his legal theory  view ,  [11]his  crucial aim in jurisprudence is not to promote human rights or to support the separation of governmental powers, and not even equality before the law, but to criticise ideas  of the rule of law and to reveal true colours of the  structures of socio-economic domination. [12]Thus in his Principles of Communism, Engels described such values as individual rights and equality before the law as fraudulent masks worn by the bourgeoisie for economic supremacy and exploitation.
However , i have to disagree with his takes on  the rule of law , which  he thinks that its the contributing facts that allows subjugation on the working class which the benefits being gained by the bourgeois. He thinks that the law create force between the two classes in a negative way.
 [13]The creation of the rule of law is to protect and to develop the state s or society to a better place , however Marxism ideas were contradict to  the reality .  We should believe in law  , because if we stop believing in it, the ideals that it represents will disasterous . More over , there should be faithfull follower that will eventually helps to grow trust in  thread in society .
     Let me explain the real purpose of the rule of law and role should it play in developing better life for human and the state of government.
  The rule of law is not invented but was popularised by AV dicey in the late nineteenth. As for him , he summarized his ideas of rule of law into three main principle as follow. [14]Firstly ,no man is punishable in body or goods except for the distinct breach of law such in case Entick v Carrington 1765. This concept attempt to ensure that the law is  not secret or retrospective thereby limiting the discretionary power of government. Second principles summarizing that the law is for everyone , so there shouldn’t be monopolising of powers or any subjugation of any sides. The final element of Dicey ideas belief that the common law was capable of protecting individuals rights. Such as  if the police suspect in any person that protect under law , the person has the rights to remain in silent till the present of lawyers.
     

Besides Av dicey there have been many other explanation of the rule of law. Paul Craig  argues that there are two main schools of thought .One approach is formal conception of law which is concerned in law making process and that obligations imposed by the law.
So back to discussion, i would start arguing that karl marx viewing law in a wrong ways even if there was exist subjugation during the time by bourgeoise class people towards working class for the their personal benefits  .
  I think that  just because there are some bourgeois with corrupted  leadership needs power to create a 'classless' society and misusing the power of law in wrong way doesn’t  change the supremacy purpose of what the law is about . In other words  this is not to presume that the law is somehow controlled by the bourgeoisie but  there exist,  bourgeois rules in a form of individual manipulation. [15]The law is created to protects individual rights , which means the law is for everyone and its does not specify any group of classes but generalize everybody equally according that postulated by Av dicey equality of law for everyone  .
 Besides  Av dicey ideas on rule of law , there are some modern day philosopher that defines the doctrine of rule of law  such as  Professor Robert Fine explores marxisme takes on rule of law in his books ‘’Democarcy and the rule of law :Marx critique in his legal theory.  From the book, [16]he examines the classic version to the modern version of the rule of law .  In his first section  of the book he inferred the economic  and socio domination of people according from what Marx illustrate and arguing his own ideas of how the rule of law being played in today society. Basically He thinks that modern day was too obessed with capitalism ,as there were too many business class people that works hard to obtained great salary to supports their high
[17]One of the most famous economists of today genre is Adam Smith , he viewed Marxism on his own perspective . Adam Smith uses a more Western approach  when looking at economics and stated that workers will always search for the finest employment posts and good salaries. However Karl Marx theory were against from what Adam view because  he believed that a labour salary war will results  society to break down and might trigger biggest impact  on the entire economy.
Besides that ,Adam Smith supported the belief that everybody have the rights provided in capitalism. However compared with  [18]Marx , he criticized  capitalism and encouraged the idea of individual freedom and  thinks that one day socialism would be used in place of capitalism.  Adam Smith supported the notion that every individual has the rights of not only pursuing happiness, but also advancing in the society. However, Karl Marx did not approve of this opinion. For  him, when people improve themselves so as to gain happiness, they are essentially endangering their own society.
  I shall remind that my arguements is not fully against marxisme , so when Marxists [19]talk about the working class, we don't mean a minority of people but we mean the vast majority of peoples in society. [20]In a country like the U.S., the more than half  percentage of the population is working class.  This applies around the world ,nearly every country in the world today has a big working class.
 Well  it cant be denied that although as a communist there is no believe in creating law as to governing people but  there are some contributions made by Marxisme . For all these years , it became  importants to practising equality so that there wont be any conflict like happened in Indonesia during Suharto ruling periods  . That  incident were mainly caused by dissatisfaction  of the Indonesian citizens  as he never appreciate efforts made by working class for the development of the country. This international perspective  makes us realize there should be equality before the law  should be attached in politism and socialism so that the citizens who consist of different stages realize that country need them .
Although communism is seen as one of the world's great powers, but actually not many countries had interest on it . [21]According from book tittled ‘’Marxism In Asia By Collin Mackeras  ,there are nine countries that still  practising communism such as  Soviet Union (Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics), China (People's Republic Of China), Cuba (Republic Of Cuba), Laos (Lao People's Democratic Republic), Vietnam (Socialist Republic Of Vietnam), Korea North (Democratic People's Republic Of Korea), South Yemen (People's Democratic Republic Of Yemen), Myanmar (Socialist Republic Of Union Of Burma) And Cambodia / Cambodia (Democratic Kampuchea).
However, until 2005 only five countries that remained under communist rule in China, Laos, Vietnam, Cuba and North Korea.
To conclude [22]Marxist ideas are closely associated with despotic communist regimes, since these regimes have claimed Marxism as their official ideology. Unfortunately, the Marxist dream of a lawless society has led only to gross inequality and class-oriented policies. In fact, Marxist regimes have been far more efficient in the art of killing millions of individuals than in the art of producing any concrete or perceived form of social justice.
[23] It is also important to understand that Marx is not a legal theorist attempting to answer narrow questions of what the law “is” or “ought” to be. Marx’s ability to use social and economic contexts to examine the “role” of law, rather than observe what the law is or ought to be, is his most distinguishing legacy. Do not view Marx as a legal theorist since he is so much more. View Marx as a social scientist who, in great measure, reduces law to a tool by those in economic power to exploit the masses. Apart from all this , [24]Marxism is still very much alive, and that it has deeply influenced a legal thinkers, who have affiliated some of its ideas . This may be regarded as a dangerous development, since history analytically  demonstrates that whenever Marxist legal theory is applied, at least two of its most dreadful characteristics invariably appear, namely, judicial partiality and political arbitrariness










REFERENCES
1.    Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, Collected Works, 40 vols. (New York, NY: International Publishers, 1976), 6:494–5.

2.     V.I. Lenin, On Socialist Ideology and Culture (Moscow, USSR: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1981), 51–2
3.    Collins, H., Marxism and Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford, p. 9, 1988
4.    http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/condition-working-class/ch13.htm
5.    http://www.allaboutworldview.org/marxist-law.htm
6.    Heionline .com  : Marxism and the rule of law journal by Michael Mandel
7.    http://creation.com/marxism-law-and-evolution
8.    www.isj.org.uk/index.php4?id=456&issue=119 : related  pharagraph
9.    http://creation.com/marxism-law-and-evolution
11. R.N. Carew Hunt. 1962. The Theory And Practice Of Communism An Introduction. New York
12. T R S Allan, ‘The Rule of Law as the Rule of Reason: Consent and Constitutionalism’ (1999) 115 Law Quarterly Review 221 
13. Joanne sellick’ constitutional and administractive law ‘’4th edition pg 22-23
14. Book Of Professor Rober Fine ,’Democracy And The Rule Of Law : Marx Critique On His Legal Theory ‘
15. Http://Rebirthofreason.Com/Articles/Twigg/Karl_Marx_Versus_Adam_Smith.Shtml - Article Tittle :Karl Marx Vs Adam Smith By Lauren M.Twigg
16. http://money.howstuffworks.com/adam-smith-karl-marx-quiz.htm
17. http://socialistworker.org/Featured/Stories/Debate_Maass0706.shtml - based on article ‘’IS MARXISM RELEVENT TODAY’’
18. pp 137-171 Martin Krygier MARXISM, COMMUNISM, AND THE RULE OF LAW
19. Marxism in asia by Collin mackerras ,nick knight
20. Wood, Allen, 1981, Karl Marx, London: Routledge; second edition, 2004.
21. Jurisprudence January 2006  George D .Pappas, Esq., LL.M. International Center for Legal Studies
23. Sol Picciotto, ‘The Theory of the State, Class struggle and the Rule of Law’ in Bob Fine et al (eds), Capitalism and the rule of law : from deviancy theory to Marxism (1979) 169. 


[1] Sol Picciotto, ‘The Theory of the State, Class struggle and the Rule of Law’ in Bob Fine et al (eds), Capitalism and the rule of law : from deviancy theory to Marxism (1979) 169.  
[2] Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, Collected Works, 40 vols. (New York, NY: International Publishers, 1976), 6:494–5.
3 V.I. Lenin, On Socialist Ideology and Culture (Moscow, USSR: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1981), 51–2. Collins, H., Marxism and Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford, p. 9, 1988
4 http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/condition-working-class/ch13.htm

[5] http://www.allaboutworldview.org/marxist-law.htm
[6] Heionline .com  : Marxism and the rule of law journal by Michael Mandel
[7] http://creation.com/marxism-law-and-evolution
[9] http://creation.com/marxism-law-and-evolution
[11] r.n. carew hunt. 1962. the theory and practice of communism an introduction. new york:

[13] T R S Allan, ‘The Rule of Law as the Rule of Reason: Consent and Constitutionalism’ (1999) 115 Law Quarterly Review 221  
[14] Joanne sellick’ constitutional and administractive law ‘’4th edition pg 22-23
[15] Joanne sellick’ constitutional and administractive law ‘’4th edition pg 22-23
[16] Book Of Professor Rober Fine ,’Democracy And The Rule Of Law : Marx Critique On His Legal Theory ‘
[17] Http://Rebirthofreason.Com/Articles/Twigg/Karl_Marx_Versus_Adam_Smith.Shtml - Article Tittle :Karl Marx Vs Adam Smith By Lauren M.Twigg
[18] http://money.howstuffworks.com/adam-smith-karl-marx-quiz.htm
[19] http://socialistworker.org/Featured/Stories/Debate_Maass0706.shtml - based on article ‘’IS MARXISM RELEVENT TODAY’’
[20] pp 137-171 Martin Krygier MARXISM, COMMUNISM, AND THE RULE OF LAW
[21] Marxism in asia by Collin mackerras ,nick knight
[22] Wood, Allen, 1981, Karl Marx, London: Routledge; second edition, 2004.
[23]Jurisprudence January 2006  George D .Pappas, Esq., LL.M. International Center for Legal Studies
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thats how i do it ...and im proud of my work (err..yea im stil learning usage of grammar at the moment )