An analysis of the divergent legal systems in England, France, Germany and Rome showing the relationship of the courts to the community, the legal structure and political organizations. The work examines the evolution of medieval French and German courts from the Roman canonist system. This study also explores the role of the local courts in England and examines in detail the workings and influence of a typical manor court, Redgrave, in Suffolk, England, (which was owned by Sir Nicholas Bacon, the father of Sir Francis Bacon) for the period up to 1711. Extensive notes, indexed. Scholars interested in the roots of the modern political structures in Europe will find this work of supreme benefit.

Is Private International Law (PIL) still fit to serve its function in today's global environment? In light of some calls for radical changes to its very foundations, this timely book investigates the ability of PIL to handle contemporary and international problems, and inspires genuine debate on the future of the field. Separated into nine parts, each containing two perspectives on a different issue or challenge, this unique book considers issues such as the certainty vs flexibility of laws, the notion of universal values, the scope of party autonomy, the emerging challenges of extraterritoriality and global governance issues in the context of PIL. Further topics include current developments in forum access, the recognition and enforcement of judgments, foreign law in domestic courts and PIL in international arbitration. This comprehensive work will be of great value to scholars and students working across all areas of PIL. It will also be an important touchstone for practitioners seeking to think creatively about their cases involving conflict of laws and PIL. Contributors include: V.R. Abou-Nigm, G.A. Bermann, A. Bonomi, R.A. Brand, D.P. Fernandez Arroyo, F. Ferrari, H.A. Grigera Naon, B. Hess, M. Lehmann, M. Mantovani, R. Michaels, Y. Nishitani, F. Ragno, M. Reimann, K. Roosevelt III, L.J. Silberman, S.C. Symeonides, L.E. Teitz, H. van Loon

This concise primer offers an introduction to U.S. law from a comparative perspective, explaining not only the main features of American law and legal culture, but also how and why it differs from that of other countries. Gerrit De Geest initially focuses on the core characteristics of American law, such as the predominance of judge-made law, the significance of state law and the vital role that juries play in the legal process. De Geest then moves on to provide a succinct analysis of U.S. legal culture, before summarizing the principal differences in law and legal cultures around the world. Key features include: A thorough introduction to the main elements of U.S. law for international students A concise, accessible style illustrated with lively anecdotes and discussion of relevant foundational cases Explanation of the historical and cultural roots of law in the U.S. and other countries to provide context for differences. Students beginning LLM programs in the U.S., in particular international students, will find this primer invaluable reading. It will also be of interest to pre-law and comparative law students.

In 1998, the first edition of Legal Drafting: Civil Proceedings was written to bridge the gap between the academic study of law and its practical application insofar as the preparation of court documents is concerned. Drawing on his experience in coaching pupils at the Bar, the author explains elementary matters and poses useful reminders to more experienced practitioners. The second edition of Legal Drafting: Civil Proceedings has been updated to address changes in the law. It now includes a section on the preparation of documents for arbitrations as well as an extended chapter on the all-important task of preparing heads of argument.

While scholars have rightly focused on the importance of the landmark opinions of the United States Supreme Court and its Chief Justice, John Marshall, in the rise in influence of the Court in the Early Republic, the crucial role of the circuit courts in the development of a uniform system of federal law across the nation has largely been ignored. This book highlights the contribution of four Associate Justices (Washington, Livingston, Story and Thompson) as presiding judges of their respective circuit courts during the Marshall era, in order to establish that in those early years federal law grew from the 'inferior courts' upwards rather than down from the Supreme Court. It does so after a reading of over 1800 mainly circuit opinions and over 2000 original letters, which reveal the sources of law upon which the justices drew and their efforts through correspondence to achieve consistency across the circuits. The documents examined present insights into momentous social, political and economic issues facing the Union and demonstrate how these justices dealt with them on circuit. Particular attention is paid to the different ways in which each justice contributed to the shaping of United States law on circuit and on the Court and in the case of Justices Livingston and Thompson also during their time on the New York State Supreme Court.

With contributions from some of the leading scholars in law and economics, this comprehensive book summarizes the state of economic research on litigation, procedure and evidence. Among the topics covered are the settlement negotiations; discovery; the incentive to sue; theories of legal evidence; evidentiary misconduct; and the privilege against self incrimination. A valuable reference tool for academics and post graduate students in law, business, and economics. Anyone with a general interest how legal process does and should work will also find much to interest them in this book. 'The second edition of Procedural Law and Economics is an expanded and updated collection that highlights new developments and reiterates older themes. The volume will be essential reading both for economists who want an introduction to a core legal subject, and for legal scholars seeking new insights into the such topics as settlement, fee shifting, and class actions.

Criminal proceedings, it is often now said, ought to be conducted with integrity. But what, exactly, does it mean for criminal process to have, or to lack, 'integrity'? Is integrity in this sense merely an aspirational normative ideal, with possibly diffuse influence on conceptions of professional responsibility? Or is it also a juridical concept with robust institutional purchase and enforceable practical consequences in criminal litigation? The 16 new essays contained in this collection, written by prominent legal scholars and criminologists from Australia, Hong Kong, the UK and the USA, engage systematically with - and seek to generate further debate about - the theoretical and practical significance of 'integrity' at all stages of the criminal process. Reflecting the flexibility and scope of a putative 'integrity principle', the essays range widely over many of the most hotly contested issues in contemporary criminal justice theory, policy and practice, including: the ethics of police investigations, charging practice and discretionary enforcement; prosecutorial independence, policy and operational decision-making; plea bargaining; the perils of witness coaching and accomplice testimony; expert evidence; doctrines of admissibility and abuse of process; lay participation in criminal adjudication; the role of remorse in criminal trials; the ethics of appellate judgment writing; innocence projects; and state compensation for miscarriages of justice.

In EU consumer law, the rise of Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights - which guarantees the right to an effective remedy and a fair trial - over the past decade has coincided with a wave of crisis-induced litigation. Courts were confronted with large numbers of cases against overindebted consumers. This has prompted many questions on the need for effective judicial protection, for instance in mortgage enforcement and order for payment procedures. This book provides a unique perspective on the role of civil courts at the crossroads of EU fundamental rights, consumer law and access to justice. It examines how the Court of Justice of the European Union, as well as civil courts in Spain and the Netherlands, refer to Article 47 in unfair terms cases, where procedural obstacles and inequalities have become particularly visible - especially in Spanish case law. The analysis reveals a divergence between European and national practices and also shows the potential of Article 47, which is often wrongly equated with the principle of effectiveness, in consumer litigation. Effective Judicial Protection in Consumer Litigation makes a vital contribution to the debate on the functions of Article 47 and fundamental rights reasoning in European private law adjudication and is a must read for anyone interested in the application of Article 47 in judicial decision-making.