Understanding the Common Law System and Precedent

RunningWeek Society Introduction

  • Speaker: Vash, Co-President of the RunningWeek Society.

  • Society's Principles: Adheres to three core principles:

    • Constitutionalism

    • Fundamental Freedom

    • The Rule of Law

  • Nature: It is a law-based organization on campus.

  • Activities/Platform: Provides a platform for discussion on controversial legal and political issues (e.g., Trump and trade wars, Alberta independence, Ukraine).

  • Policy: Does not tolerate cancel culture; open discussion is encouraged, as long as it avoids racism or hate speech.

  • Event Details:

    • Date: Tomorrow

    • Time: 7:007:00 PM to 8:308:30 PM

    • Location: Braskem (local pub on campus, within the University Center)

    • Dress Code: None

Course Logistics and Upcoming Topics

  • First Course Link Quiz:

    • Opens: Thursday at noon

    • Closes: Friday at noon

    • Duration: 2424 hours to complete.

    • Time Required: Approximately 55 minutes.

  • Today's Focus: Expanding on details from last Thursday's discussion about legal rules and defining law.

  • Key Topics for Today:

    • What a common law legal system is.

    • How judges in a common law system decide cases.

    • The important idea of precedent.

    • Introduction to great cases.

  • Required Reading: Introduction to Professor Hutchinson's book, Is Eating People Wrong?

Common Law Legal Systems and Rules

  • Historical Context: The common law system is very old, dating back to the 11th11^{th} century in the United Kingdom, and persists due to its inherent logic.

  • Clarification of Terminology:

    • Common Law Legal Systems: Countries like Canada, English-speaking nations, or those with political ties to the UK use this system (distinction from civil law systems mentioned previously).

    • Common Law Rules: Specific areas of law that are

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