
Precedent in English Law
4th Edition
Published on 13. June 1991
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-0-19-876163-1 (ISBN)
Description
The previous three editions of this book have established it as the most comprehensive account of precedent in English law for students, teachers and practitioners alike.
The aim of the book is to present a basic guide to the current doctrine of precedent in England, set in the wider context of the jurisprudential problems which any treatment of the topic involves. Such problems include the nature of the ratio decidendi of a precedent and of its binding force, the significance of precedents alongside other sources of law, their role in legal reasoning, and the account which must be taken of them by any general theory of law. In examining these matters, the late Sir Rupert Cross expounded a fairly traditional practitioners' view, and this approach has been preserved in the fourth edition, although references are included to competing answers, taking into account developments in the literature since the third edition. Considerable re-writing has been undertaken to update case-law and take account of the possible implications for the doctrine of precedent of the impact of European community law, making it an indespensable work of reference for readers interested in the past history, present state and future developments of the English rules of precedent.
Dr. J.W. Harris is a Fellow of Keble College, Oxford. The late Sir Rupert Cross was formerly Vinerian Professor of Law at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford.
The aim of the book is to present a basic guide to the current doctrine of precedent in England, set in the wider context of the jurisprudential problems which any treatment of the topic involves. Such problems include the nature of the ratio decidendi of a precedent and of its binding force, the significance of precedents alongside other sources of law, their role in legal reasoning, and the account which must be taken of them by any general theory of law. In examining these matters, the late Sir Rupert Cross expounded a fairly traditional practitioners' view, and this approach has been preserved in the fourth edition, although references are included to competing answers, taking into account developments in the literature since the third edition. Considerable re-writing has been undertaken to update case-law and take account of the possible implications for the doctrine of precedent of the impact of European community law, making it an indespensable work of reference for readers interested in the past history, present state and future developments of the English rules of precedent.
Dr. J.W. Harris is a Fellow of Keble College, Oxford. The late Sir Rupert Cross was formerly Vinerian Professor of Law at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford.
Reviews / Votes
`The best book in its field on the topic.'Mark Lunney, King's College London `This is an excellent book and it is an essential reading for anyone who wants to know the operation of English law.'
Say Hak Goo, University of Exeter `This is an excellent book which will remain a primary text for many years to come.'
Stephen Shute, Corpus Christi College `An excellent survey of `precedent' in English law.'
A.M. McGuire, Leicester Polytechnic
More details
Series
Edition
4th Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Oxford University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
371 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-876163-1 (9780198761631)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Rupert Cross | J. W. Harris
Precedent in English Law
E-Book
06/1991
1st Edition
Clarendon Press
€69.89
Available for download
Content
The English doctrine of precedent; "ratio decidendi" and "obiter dictum"; "stare decisis"; exceptions to "stare decisis"; precedent as a source of law; precedent and judicial reasoning; precedent and legal theory; the future.