LR Pros and Cons

• Advantages:

  1. Provides certainty within the law
  2. Saves judges time
  3. Respects Parliamentary Supremacy
  4. Respects Separation of Powers
• Disadvantages:

  1. Leads to absurdity
  2. Doesn't apply to homonyms
  3. Assumes perfection in drafting
  4. Doesn't allow for judicial creativity
• ADVANTAGE

  P: Certainty

  E: literal interpretation

  E: DPP v Cheeseman, dictionary

  L: consistent outcomes
• ADVANTAGE

  P: Saves judges time

  E: quickly apply

  E: DPP v Cheeseman, dictionary

  L: Upholds swift justice
• ADVANTAGE

  P: Respects Parliamentary Supremacy

  E: stops judges making law

  E: LNER v Berriman

  L: MPs are elected
• ADVANTAGE

  P: Respects separation of powers

  E: stops judiciary from being legislature

  E: DPP v Cheeseman, only applied the law

  L: judges not exceeding their authority
• DISADVANTAGE

  P: Leads to absurdity

  E: all cases treated alike

  E: DPP v Cheeseman, not guilty

  L: injustice
• DISADVANTAGE

  P: Homonyms

  E: ambiguous words

  E: R v Allen “marry”

  L: inconsistent outcomes
• DISADVANTAGE

  P: Assumes perfection in drafting

  E: judges apply the words

  E: LNER v Berriman, Fatal Accidents Act 1846

  L: not fulfilling Parliament’s intentions.
• DISADVANTAGE

  P: doesn’t allow for judicial creativity

  E: all cases treated alike

  E: DPP v Cheeseman, Town and Police Clauses Act 1847

  L: old and outdated Acts