MR Pros and Cons

• Advantages :

  1. Practices parliaments intentions
  2. Allows for judicial creativity
  3. Creates flexibility in the law
  4. Avoids absurdity
• Disadvantages :

  1. Creates uncertainty
  2. Disrespects Parliamentary Supremacy
  3. Limited to fixing one problem at a time
  4. Disrespects Separation of Powers
• ADVANTAGE

  P: Parliament’s intentions enacted

  E: ignore the words of an Act

  E: Smith v Hughes, street

  L: Law working how it was intended
• ADVANTAGE

  P: Allows for judicial creativity

  E: parliament’s intentions

  E: RCN v DHSS, registered medical practitioner

  L: saves parliament time
• ADVANTAGE

  P: flexibility in the law

  E: focus on the issues not the words

  E: RCN v DHSS, backstreet abortions

  L: fair outcomes
• ADVANTAGE

  P: Avoids absurdity

  E: ignores strict wording

  E: Smith v Hughes, street

  L: ensures justice
• DISADVANTAGE

  P: creates uncertainty

  E: judges disagree what the mischief is

  E: RCN v DHSS, 2 dissenting judges

  L: inconsistent outcomes
• DISADVANTAGE

  P: Disrespects Parliamentary Supremacy

  E: ignore words of an Act

  E: Smith v Hughes, street

  L: Judges aren’t elected
• DISADVANTAGE

  P: limited to fixing one problem at a time

  E: one mischief fixed

  E: DPP v Bull, SOA 1959

  L: doesn’t address future issues
• DISADVANTAGE

  P: Against Separation of Powers

  E: Judges only meant to apply the law

  E: Smith v Hughes, street

  L: Judges acting unconstitutionally