Source of Law

Source of Law

Today, there are three main sources of Law – Judicial Precedent (this includes both common law and equity), Legislation (Statute Law) and European Union Law.
现今，主要有三种法律渊源——判例法（包括common law 和 equity）, 法规(成文法) 和 欧盟法。

1. Judicial Precedent (Case Law)
This consists of legal rules laid down by judges in past cases. Generally speaking, if the material (important) facts of a subsequent(后来的，后继的) case are similar to the important facts of a previous case, then the same legal rule must be used in the later case, i.e.: the judge must give the same judgement. This is the doctrine (教义) of judicial precedent and it is based on the principle of consistency.

There are two types of judicial precedents – Binding and Persuasive (具有约束力的判例 & 具有说服力的判例).
1) A binding precedent must be followed in a later case – the judge has no choice in the matter.
2) A persuasive precedent may or may not be followed in a later case – the judge in the later case has a choice. An example of a persuasive precedent is a judgement of a lower court. (下级法院的判例对上级法院无约束力，只有说服力） Only judgements of superior courts are binding on a judge of a lower court in a later case.

Persuasive precedents include judgments of lower courts, certain judgments of Commonwealth (联邦) courts and courts of the USA.

Ratio Decidendi and Obiter Dicta
(注：Ratio Decidendi: 判决理由，或法律原则； Obiter Dicta 为复数，其单数形式为-Obiter Dictum: 附带意见；法官对于判决中附带表示的意见)
A written judgment consists of many pages. However, the only part of the case which binds a later court is the ratio decidendi i.e. the legal rule used by the judge to arrive at his judgment. [ratio decidendi是一个法律条文，只不过被法官在该案例中采用作为其判决的依据，所以被翻译为：法律原则，判决依据.] All other parts of the judgment are obiter dicta (things said by the way) and do not bind later courts (although they may have some persuasive authority).
(注：因此，在冗长的审判书中，虽然有好几页，但是只有Ratio Decidendi是对于其后的案例具有约束在作用，其他的都是Obiter Dictum, 即使审判者具有persuasive的权利，但是这些Obiter Dictum 对于后来的案例是没有约束力的。

In discussing the doctrine of judicial precedent, the hierarchy (等级) of the courts is very important, i.e.: it must be clearly understood that only judgments of the higher courts bind lower courts. Judgments of inferior courts do not bind any courts, not even themselves.

Only judgements of the higher courts bind (约束) the lower courts, not vice versa.

Refusing to follow a precedent （判例规避）
In certain circumstances (条件), a later court may refuse to follow an apparently binding precedent –
a) By distinguishing the precedent(区别前后案件);
b) Because the precedent has been overruled (推翻) by a higher court or by statute;
c) Because the precedent conflicts with another case at the same level;
d) If the precedent conflicts with EC law (EC=European County);
e) If the previous judgement was reached per incuram [因(法官等的)疏忽] (without proper care)

a) 区别前后案件[distinguish]。这种规则的要旨是，尽量找出目前案件与包含司法判例之先前案件之间在事实-上的差异，从而规避判例的适用。英国判例法有一条基本规则，即只有当前后两案在事实上类似时，才能适用先前的判例。因此，只要找出差异，甚至是细微的差异也可能达到规避判例的目的。但是，有时，为了规避判例的适用，法官们不得不绞尽脑汁，而找到的所谓差异常常有"无中生有"的感觉，"偶尔，这种所谓的差异不仅不合逻辑，反而使法律进一步复杂化。
b) 因原有先例被制定法所推翻而不再适用该先例。
c) 因同级法院的判例互相冲突而选择合适的判例加以适用，从而规避不当判例的适用。一般而言，同级法院的判例之间发生冲突，法官可以根据"后法优于先法"的原则，选择适用后一先例，以规避适用另外的先例，即用后一判例规避适用另外的判例。
d) 宣布先例与"法律的基本原则相冲突"，从而规避判例的适用。
e) 先前的判例是由于法官的疏忽而引起的（即：没有得到适当的注意）
注：以下2点为网络资料上地附加中文，关于“如何规避判例”：
f) 指出 判例根据[ratio]的模糊或不明之处，进而拒绝遵循先例，以规避判例对目前案件的适用，并对模糊或不明之处进行澄清，或者给予新的解释，赋予其新的含义，引出新的法律规则。
g) 宣布先例的原则或者判例依据过于"宽泛"，或者将判例依据之一部分视作"附带说明"，从而规避判例的适用。因为，依照严格的判例法规则，只有"判决根据"[ratio]才是判例具有拘束力的依据，而"附带说明"则不对法院产生任何实质性的拘束力。

Advantages and Disadvantages of Judicial Precedent
The Doctrine of Precedent as applied by the courts has certain advantages, but there are also various disadvantages –
Advantages: 1) Flexible; 2) Detailed; 3) Practical; 4) Economy of Effort; 5) Certainty.
优点: 1)灵活；2)详细；3)实用的；4)效用经济；5)必然性
Disadvantages: 1) Rigidity; 2) Bulky and complex; 3) Development slow; 4) Created in arrears
缺点：1)刻板；2)笨重而复杂；3)发展缓慢：4) 创新落后

2. Legislation (Statute Law)
This is law made by the Queen in Parliament (议会、国会). Parliament consists of the Queen, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. Proposals for legislation are introduced as Bills (议案) in either House of Parliament. A bill which has passed through all stages (i.e.: three readings (三读阶段), committee stage(英国上、下议院会审bill的二读与三读之间的阶段), report stage, etc.) in both Houses(指：上、下议院)and receives the Royal Assent of the Queen (女王的批准) is called an Act of Parliament – Statute Law is superior to Case Law, i.e. Parliament can change any law laid down by a judge in a previous case.

Before 1973, Parliament could pass any law it wished – it was sovereign (独立自主的). However, as a result of joining the European Union on 1st January 1973, Parliament is no longer completely supreme. i.e.: It is bound by certain laws made by the European Union.

An Act of Parliament can now be declared void (无效的) if it is in conflict with EU Law.

Also, in a case which involves EU law, the House of Lords is no longer the highest Appeal Court – in such a case, it is possible to appeal from the House of Lords to the European Court of Justice.

When a statute has been passed, it usually comes into force (开始生效) immediately. In some cases, it comes into force at a future date.

The function of a judge is to apply the law as laid down by Parliament when an actual court case (真实判例) arises(出现，发生) – he cannot question it even if he disagrees with it.