This open access book tells the story of how a standing board of judges in London has shaped the constitutional laws of Commonwealth countries through its most consequential decisions since 1833. It provides a broad-ranging critical analysis of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council's (JCPC) constitutional influence and legacy to date as the oldest serving multinational supreme court in the world.
From over 193 years of case law, 17 decisions are identified and represent, for better or worse, defining historical and constitutional moments in their respective jurisdictions and beyond. They originate from 11 countries on 5 continents, reflecting the once worldwide breadth of the JCPC's authority. Several cases from the Global South, which have tended to be overlooked in the Western literature and case law, are included. In this first-ever collection of JCPC case studies, the authors explain the court's pivotal role in redefining the relationship between the UK and the rest of the Commonwealth, articulating the structures of Westminster constitutions, and interpreting fundamental human rights.
The collection offers an outlook on the JCPC's future as it carries on with its subsisting mandate in the 31 countries and territories still under its jurisdiction.
The book is aimed at public law scholars, practitioners, and students from Commonwealth countries. It will also interest readers who seek to learn about the British and Commonwealth constitutional traditions. From this volume of 15 original studies on a unique judicial institution in modern history, the reader will gain a deeper comprehension of our constitutions and their mutual influences within and across legal traditions.
