Landmark Decisions of UK Courts (1607-1980)
Find here a selection of major constitutional and administrative decisions handed down by United Kingdom courts between 1607 and 1980
The following table was compiled using the Open Law Project – Constitutional Law hosted on the BAILII platform, as well as various British textbooks, treatises, and ‘Cases and Materials’ volumes.
The decisions are arranged in chronological order.
The topics selected here are: separation of powers; judicial review; devolution; fundamental rights; and fundamental principles of constitutional law.
Citation
Court
Issue
Key-words
Summary
1
Case of Prohibitions [1607] EWHC J23 (KB)
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
Separation of powers
Judicial independence
2
Case of Proclamations [1610] EWHC KB J22
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Royal prerogative ; parliamentary sovereignty ; King in Parliament
4
Entick v Carrington [1765] EWHC KB J98
King’s Bench
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Rule of law; political liberalism
5
Somerset v Stewart [1772] 48 ER 499
Fundamental rights
Slavery ; principle of legality
6
Stockdale v Hansard [1839] EWHC QB J21
High Court
Separation of powers
Parliamentary privileges ; parliamentary sovereignty
7
Edinburgh & Dalkeith Railway Co v Wauchope [1842] UKHL J12
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Separation of powers
Parliamentary sovereignty ; Bill of Rights
10
Bradlaugh v Gossett (1884) 12 QBD 271
High Court
Separation of powers
Parliamentary oath ; parliamentary privileges ; Bill of Rights
11
London Tramways Co. v London County Council [1898] UKHL 1
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Precedent ; stare decisis
12
Attorney-General v De Keyser’s Royal Hotel Limited [1920] AC 508
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Royal prerogative ; parliamentary sovereignty
13
Johnstone v Pedlar [1921] UKHL 1
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Act of State
14
Liversidge v Anderson [1942] UKHL 1
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Separation of powers
State of emergency ; judicial deference ; civil liberties ; rule of law
15
Court of Appeal
Judicial Review
Wednesbury unreasonableness ; judicial review ; rule of law ; discretionary powers
16
Barnard v National Dock Labour Board [1953] EWCA
Court of Appeal
Judicial Review
Delegation of powers ; administrative and judicial function ; judicial review
17
MacCormick v Lord Advocate [1953] SC 396
Court of Session (Scotland)
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Royal prerogative ; Acts of Union
18
Silkin v Beaverbrook Newspapers Ltd [1958] 1 WLR 743
Queen’s Bench
Fundamental rights
Freedom of speech ; freedom of the press ; libel
19
Burmah Oil Co Ltd v Lord Advocate [1964] UKHL 6
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Wartime accountability
20
Practice Statement [1966] 3 All ER 77
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Precedent ; stare decisis
21
Anisminic Ltd v Foreign Compensation Commission [1969] 2 AC 147
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Judicial Review
Ouster clause ; judicial review ; rule of law; principle of legality
22
British Oxygen Co Ltd v Minister of Technology [1970] UKHL 4
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Judicial Review
Fettering of discretion ; judicial review
23
Blackburn v Attorney General [1971] EWCA Civ 7
Court of Appeal
Separation of powers
European communities ; parliamentary sovereignty ; royal prerogative
24
Pickin v British Railways Board [1974] UKHL 1
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Separation of powers
Parliamentary sovereignty ; parliamentary procedures ; parliamentary privileges ; Bill of Rights
26
Congreve v Home Office [1976] QB 629
Court of Appeal
Judicial Review
Abuse of discretionary power
27
Burmah Oil Co Ltd v Bank of England [1979] UKHL 4
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Crown privilege
28
Duport Steels Ltd v Sirs [1980] 1 WLR 142
Appellate Committee of the House of Lords
Separation of powers
Separation of powers ; judicial independence
29
Macarthys Ltd v Smith (No 2) [1980] EWCA Civ 7
Court of Appeal
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
EU law ; parliamentary sovereignty ; interpretation ; anti-discrimination