Quote#Wisdom
The rule is this: that wherever there is a decision of a Court of…
Quote bySir Frederick Pollock, 1st Baronet · 1783–1870
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Leech v. North Staffordshire Railway Co. (1860), 29 L. J. M. C. 155..
English (original)
The rule is this: that wherever there is a decision of a Court of concurrent jurisdiction, the other Courts will adopt that as the basis of their decision, provided it can be appealed from. If it cannot be appealed from, then they will exercise their own judgment.
— Sir Frederick Pollock, 1st Baronet
More from Sir Frederick Pollock, 1st Baronet
In a perfectly new case—a case altogether primae impressionis—I think the Judges are bound to hold fast to the principles of the common law—to remember the maxim, "Salus reipublicae suprema lex," and if the condition be really in principle …
I remember Lord Eldon saying to counsel, " You have told us how far the cases have gone, will you now tell us where they are to stop?" I think it is now time that we should say where the cases are to stop.
The Crown cannot ever be prejudiced by the misconduct or negligence of any of its officers.
You need not cite cases that are familiar.
You have no right, for the purpose of justifying a libel, to inquire into a man's life and opinions.
Judges are philologists of the highest order.