Legal systems and jurisdiction: which game, which court
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| civil liability | a claimant's claim to be made whole for a private wrong |
| criminal liability | the state's claim that a rule of public law was broken |
| standard of proof | how convinced the court must be: balance of probabilities or beyond reasonable doubt |
| precedent | like cases decided alike, higher courts binding lower ones |
One set of facts, three different questions
- A customer alleges the festival buns made her ill. Before anyone argues about facts: is this civil or criminal, which court hears it, and who must prove what, to what standard?
- Every rule in this course carries its label: the working law is England and Wales.
Civil and criminal are different games
- Civil liability 民事责任 is the claimant's claim to be made whole; criminal liability 刑事责任 is the state's claim that public law was broken. Same facts, different parties.
- The standard of proof 证明标准 differs on purpose: the civil balance of probabilities (just past 50%); criminal, beyond reasonable doubt - no number, deliberately.
The criminal standard of proof in England and Wales:
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No numeric standard exists for it, deliberately.
Match each court to its work.
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The ladder: start at the right rung.
Which court, and how long do you have
- Her schedule: 340 off work + 160 medical + 6,300 injury = 6,800 pounds - under 10,000, so the claim usually takes the small claims track in the County Court.
- A simple-contract claim must be brought within 6 years (Limitation Act 1980 s.5); a deed gets 12.
Civil, criminal, or neither?
Route each step of the bad-bun file to the right track.
The schedule: 340 + 160 + 6,300. The total, in pounds?
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340 + 160 + 6,300 = 6,800.
Years to bring a simple-contract claim (Limitation Act 1980 s.5)?
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Six years from breach; twelve for a deed.
A claim of 6,800 pounds for personal injury usually takes which track?
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Claims of 10,000 pounds or less usually take the small claims track in the County Court.
Read the citation before the case
- [2015] UKSC 67: year, court (UK Supreme Court), 67th judgment. [1893] 1 QB 256: volume 1 of the Queen's Bench reports for 1893, page 256.
- Precedent 判例: like cases alike; the Supreme Court binds every court below. A case from 1893 still good law on offers is the system working.
What does [1893] 1 QB 256 cite?
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Older cases cite law reports; modern ones use court codes like UKSC.
The Supreme Court is free to ignore its own previous decision in every case.
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It departs from itself only exceptionally; every court below is bound.
Three jurisdiction slips
- Treating not guilty as not liable. The standards differ on purpose.
- Suing where it feels right. The citation and the court come first.
- Reading a Scottish or US ruling as English law. Label the jurisdiction of every rule you rely on.
An acquittal in the criminal prosecution means the customer loses her civil claim.
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Different standards: she can still win on the balance of probabilities.
Recap
- Civil balances probabilities; criminal demands proof beyond reasonable doubt.
- Money claims of 10,000 pounds or less usually take the small claims track.
- Simple contracts: 6 years; deeds: 12. Read the citation, check the court.