header-logo header-logo

Book review: The Last Law Lords and the Supreme Court

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

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

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

London promotion underscores firm’s investment in white collar and investigations

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Private client team strengthened by partner appointment

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

Kate Gaskell, CEO of Flex Legal, reflects on chasing her childhood dreams underscores the importance of welcoming those from all backgrounds into the profession

NEWS
One in five in-house lawyers suffer ‘high’ or ‘severe’ work-related stress, according to a report by global legal body, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
The Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO’s) plea for a budget increase has been rejected by the Law Society and accepted only ‘with reluctance’ by conveyancers
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
back-to-top-scroll