header-logo header-logo

14 February 2014
Issue: 7594 / Categories: Features
printer mail-detail

Book review: The Last Law Lords and the Supreme Court

web_bookreview

"The book mines this rich vein extremely effectively, wherever relevant assessing what has changed both over the past 40 years since Paterson’s earlier book"

Author: Alan Paterson
Publisher: Hart

ISBN: 9781849463836
Price: £25.00

Professor Alan Paterson’s new book Final Judgment—The Last Law Lords and the Supreme Court is an admirably researched, readable and fascinating addition to the growing literature on how judges go about their work. His theme is judicial decision-making as a social process based on the different “dialogues” in which the judges engage.

The dialogues range from the traditional (with counsel), to the novel (with judicial assistants), from the near (the Court of Appeal) to the far (other supreme courts), from the theoretical (with academics) to the practical (the law reporters), from the open (with Parliament) to the forbidden (with government). Some, such as that with precedents may be with the dead. Some are more symbolic than real, eg with Parliament or the Executive. Some are with the future, eg a dissent.

Rich vein

Paterson subjects

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Hugo Plowman, Mishcon de Reya

NLJ Career Profile: Hugo Plowman, Mishcon de Reya

From global fraud cases to fishing off-grid, Mishcon de Reya’s chair of dispute resolution Hugo Plowman discusses mentors, management switching off

Maguire Family Law—Jennifer Hudec, Ciara Florey, Alice Ferguson & Ruth Wynn

Maguire Family Law—Jennifer Hudec, Ciara Florey, Alice Ferguson & Ruth Wynn

Maguire Family Law announces partner promotion and new hires amid a record year for enquiries

Switalskis—Rebecca Parry & Hannah Gamble

Switalskis—Rebecca Parry & Hannah Gamble

Switalskis wills and probate team extends reach with two appointments

NEWS
Restrictions on workplace non-disclosure agreements could make settlements slower, more complex and more expensive when reforms expected in 2027 take effect
Private prosecutors face closer scrutiny under Crown Prosecution Service guidance designed to strengthen accountability and consistency when intervention is requested
Foreign states cannot necessarily claim immunity for cyber operations launched abroad against computers in Britain, following a divided Supreme Court ruling
Defendants who make unsupported complaints about their lawyers risk losing legal aid while confiscation proceedings continue without representation
Lawyers advising Russian clients face different sanctions restrictions across the UK, EU and US, despite their shared objective of increasing pressure on Russia
back-to-top-scroll