15Malaysia

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Doctrine of Stare Decisis

The Doctrine of Stare Decisis is perhaps one of the most important studies in the field of law that was practise ever since from 1820s in the Supreme Court of England. In fact, from our lecturer, this is one of the most interesting area that cramps all the law students very much.

Adapted from Wikipedia,

Stare decisis (Latin: [ˈstaːre deːˈkiːsiːs], Anglicisation: [ˈsteɹɪ diˈsaɪsɪs]) is the legal principle by which judges are obliged to obey the precedents established by prior decisions. The words originate from the Latin phrase Stare decisis et non quieta movere, "Maintain what has been decided and do not alter that which has been established".

In the United States, which uses a common law system in its federal courts and most of its state courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has stated:

Stare decisis is the policy of the court to stand by precedent; the term is but an abbreviation of stare decisis et quieta non movere — "to stand by and adhere to decisions and not disturb what is settled." Consider the word "decisis." The word means, literally and legally, the decision. Nor is the doctrine stare dictis; it is not "to stand by or keep to what was said." Nor is the doctrine stare rationibus decidendi — "to keep to the rationes decidendi of past cases." Rather, under the doctrine of stare decisis a case is important only for what it decides — for the "what," not for the "why," and not for the "how." Insofar as precedent is concerned, stare decisis is important only for the decision, for the detailed legal consequence following a detailed set of facts.
In fact, this Doctrine as mentioned by my lecturer is that, most British colonised country will probably practise this doctrine. The easier understanding of this doctrine is that, "judges are bound to follow the decision made by other judges before them in dealing with cases with similar facts, whether is horizontally or vertically". Horizontally applies whereby the decision is bounded by earlier judges with the same level as the one using it. Vertically is like a superior to subordinate, whereby the one practising now is folowing the decision from a higher court or superior court.

And probably Stare Decisis is the one that makes law really hard, as they truly need to memorize and research a lot whenever they are going for a legal suit. And probably this makes two statements fairly accurate.
One will be by George Santayana, "Those who don't remember their history, are condemned to repeat the same mistake again".
Second, "The more research, just like any fields that you made, the more meticulous and trustable your information are".

Back to the topic, although Stare Decisis may meant that way, it is not as easy as is seem. Learning from my lecturer and also my law friends, not all the cases are the same and they varies, due to generation differences, technology and lots of evolvement. Thus, a lot of justification must be made as similar as possible to the case that is brought forward. But truly, it is not that easy, not just in pointing out the similarity, but to convince people that every information delivered makes hell of a sense.

So from there, we can see two things, the normal two things of advantages and disadvantages. The questioned that was brought up to me, that leaves me mumble something that I understand myself. From the positive point of view, it brings efficiency. Simply, you do not have to waste your time doing the same thing that was done earlier. In another word, REFERENCING. Apart from that will be the stability in law, that through either cultivation or cases from centuries ago, people know what is allowable and what is not. From the sources of Wiki Answers, "...to promote a uniformity of law throughout the country. Different states are free to disagree among themselves as to what laws govern in their states, but since most court made law comes from common law England, many legal principles have the same roots. Courts of different states do try to make rulings in line with other states even though they do not have to."

Although uniformity of law may be seem as both positive and negative. The negative sidepoint will be that uniformity shows that everything that happen will be the same, and there are no OTHERWISE! To rule autocratically is good, but democratically, it may seem absurb. Also, the expectability of the results may seem quite the same. Let's say there are so many cases of raping in Malaysia, and most of them will likely to get the same punishment, and out of probably thousand, only one exceptional case may happen. This simply leads to the restrictions of Judge to command and to open up to new debate. Why? Because let's say, if horizontally, most people will accept the results, but vertically, everyone might be thinking that, is that Judge trying to outrun the law of the Supreme Court, or getting some flashlight for himself. Thus this is not developing the study of law. And as time goes by, back to the 1800, the mentality of people are much different, with humans nowadays slightly more fabricated.

Thus, from that as usual, let's speculate some real case that is happening, in fact TODAY! Back in 1998, one of the Malaysia's most bizarre political scandal that involve the Deputy Prime Minister, accused and found guilty of sodomising a guy. Ten years later, after he was released from the prison of his act in 2004, he is once again being accused in the same story, with his personal assistant as well. For many of us, who knew the true story behind the court, many of us have regretted that incident, simply the media is making a truly bad name of the accused. However, this time, media are so broad and many are well informed that 1998 case may have some slippage of information. But decision have be made, so in 2010, with February 3rd the first day where their case begin, does it mean, it will be using Stare Decisis again?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

susan villella and pharmacy and duquesne http://drugstore4.com/product/kamagra-soft-flavoured.html pharmacy school missouri [url=http://drugstore4.com/product/himalaya-styplon-tabs.html]himalaya styplon tabs[/url]
pharmacy canada pet medicine http://drugstore4.com/de/product/zocor.html the natural fat loss pharmacy [url=http://drugstore4.com/de/category/krebs.html]scholarships pharmacy[/url]
susan wooten pharmacy http://drugstore4.com/product/hydrea.html pharmacy research and development [url=http://drugstore4.com/de/category/raucherentwoehnung.html]raucherentwoehnung[/url]
specialty retail pharmacy services http://drugstore4.com/de/product/lexapro.html hydrocodone pharmacy forum [url=http://drugstore4.com/product/flovent.html]susquehanna health pharmacy williamsport pa[/url]

Anonymous said...

westbury pharmacy richmond va http://drugstore4.com/fr/product/nolvadex.html kmart pharmacy recruiter [url=http://drugstore4.com/de/product/altace.html]altace[/url]
keeping products with sudephedrine behing the pharmacy counters http://drugstore4.com/de/product/super-hard-on.html eckard pharmacy [url=http://drugstore4.com/product/cardizem-hci.html]xl pharmacy reviews[/url]
pharmacy technician resume samles http://drugstore4.com/de/catalogue/t.html state of tennessee pharmacy tech requirements [url=http://drugstore4.com/product/cardarone.html]cardarone[/url]
drug pharmacy canada online order canadian http://drugstore4.com/de/product/himalaya-cystone-tabs.html giant pharmacy west grove [url=http://drugstore4.com/product/cialis-professional.html]the challenges in pharmacy[/url]

Anonymous said...

eating out 2 the movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_italian_job_70/ footjob movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_edges_of_darkness/]edges of darkness[/url]
ghostride the whip the movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_transsiberian/ terminator movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_mutant_x/]free lesbian movie gallery[/url]
once the movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_marathon_man/ movie in chinatown [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_plot_to_kill_hitler/]the plot to kill hitler[/url]
ratatouille the movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_cheetah_girls_2/ cum movie gallery [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_beneath_the_surface/]kate winslet movies movie[/url]
the weather man movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_blade_the_series/ baby jane hudson movie quotes [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_kim_possible_a_sitch_in_time/]kim possible a sitch in time[/url]
black angel free movie viewing http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_unit/ bouncing boobs movie free [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_wives_and_daughters/]hallowwen movie[/url]

Anonymous said...

student sex movie http://wikitravel.in/tourism/kazanlak-tourism disney channel original movie [url=http://autocarsite.us/pontiac/pontiac-super-duty-distributer]pontiac super duty distributer[/url]
porn movie called peaches http://xwp.in/enhancement/womens-enhancement-pills movie reviews the atlanta journal constitution [url=http://xwn.in/gambling-online_soccer-gambling-checker]voyeur movie post[/url]
list of movie stars http://newrx.in/escitalopram/citalopram-price-escitalopram movie frank sinatra beverly revele lane chocolate [url=http://mttk.info/alcohols/georgia-underage-alcohol]georgia underage alcohol[/url]
movie theaters in haverhill ma http://xwp.in/amlodipine/amlodipine-10mg gay movie tgp [url=http://mttk.info/mdma]boy in the bubble movie[/url]
harry potter movie http://xws.in/acomplia/acomplia-uk country the movie ratatouille is set in [url=http://eautoportal.in/auto-com/wholesale-auto-outlet-lisbon]wholesale auto outlet lisbon[/url]
patch adam movie http://meen.in/clomid/clomid-hcg-injection-results indian movie land [url=http://autocarsite.us/victory]frankin mills movie theatre[/url]

Anonymous said...

shining movie quotes http://latestcarnews.in/volvo/volvo-ips-boat-design hot xxx movie samples [url=http://musicstyles.info/car-audio/fiber-hd-sdi-return-video-audio]fiber hd sdi return video audio[/url]
movie theaters rochester new york http://xws.in/anacin/anacin-generic-otc invincible movie [url=http://automotoportal.in/lamborghini/free-lamborghini-murcielago]lord of the rings the movie[/url]
movie iso free download http://poow.in/levothroid/levothroid-tab-200mcg-cost adult movie free sites [url=http://meen.in/femara/femara-be-used-for-infertility]femara be used for infertility[/url]
chucky the movie http://alwayshealth.in/heart-rate/heart-of-the-five-love-languages romantic comedy hollywood movie [url=http://alwayshealth.in/osteoporosis/osteoporosis-and-hypothyroidism]red line movie wallpapers[/url]
the redemption of sarah cain movie http://xwv.in/zyban/zyban/bupropion/hydrochloride/sr movie theatres in kitty hawk kn [url=http://xwm.in/plymouth/plymouth-fury-frame-diagram-manual]plymouth fury frame diagram manual[/url]
movie reviewsa http://automotoportal.in/mercury/torque-converter-mercury-mountaineer free fem dom strap on movie [url=http://eautoportal.in/honda-auto]oscar winning movie shrouded beef[/url]

Anonymous said...

travel golf digest http://qipp.eu/vacation-packages/affordable-caribbean-vacation-package workers compensation and travel [url=http://qipp.eu/lufthansa/embraer-emb-175-jet]embraer emb 175 jet[/url]
passport requried travel http://qipp.eu/tourism/travel-tourism-amarillo-texas-tx cheap airfare discount travel expedia flight hotel [url=http://qipp.eu/travel/travel-journal-of-marco-polo-in-venice-italy]the travel and tourism industry[/url]
hydro flame travel trailer http://qipp.eu/inn/the-lakeside-inn-in-panarma-iowa travel credit card visa [url=http://qipp.eu/car-rental/car-rental-alamo-streatham]car rental alamo streatham[/url]
travel new england http://qipp.eu/tourist/pascagoula-alabama-tourist-beaches-hotels solo travel nc [url=http://qipp.eu/airlines/list-spanish-airlines]health travel insurance online[/url]
acer travel mate 2420 http://qipp.eu/expedia/jetblue-on-expedia eau claire travel center [url=http://qipp.eu/cruises/embarkment-cruises-from-vancouver]embarkment cruises from vancouver[/url]
filenes basement travel http://qipp.eu/disneyland/names-of-the-parrots-in-tiki-room-at-disneyland travel mate 2492 cmi [url=http://qipp.eu/airport/phoenix-airport-zone-maps]budget travel to southwest gulf florida[/url]

Anonymous said...

pharmacy news on chemotherpy iv prep http://dopox.eu/medrol/medrol-shots university of mississippi school of pharmacy transfer [url=http://dopox.eu/aricept/synthroid-wellbutrin-pravachol-actos-aricept]synthroid wellbutrin pravachol actos aricept[/url]
herbal pharmacy houston texas http://dopox.eu/antibiotics/symptoms-of-allergic-reactions-to-antibiotics pharmacy on line holland [url=http://dopox.eu/medrol/solu-medrol-for-pets]study guide for pharmacy techs[/url]
kilgore pharmacy http://dopox.eu/zovirax/zovirax-eye-ointment canada pharmacy com [url=http://dopox.eu/amlodipine/amlodipine-famotidine-interaction]amlodipine famotidine interaction[/url]
syrup china pharmacy http://dopox.eu/steroidal/non-steroidal-antiimflamatory-drugs denver 24 hour pharmacy albert [url=http://dopox.eu/antibiotic/antibiotic-prophylaxis-for-anthrax]online pharmacy zyrtec[/url]
on line pharmacy levitra http://dopox.eu/erythromycin/erythromycin-and-clearing-acne cost plus pharmacy tacoma [url=http://dopox.eu/cipro/flagyl-and-cipro]flagyl and cipro[/url]
kingwood pharmacy http://dopox.eu/angina/class-ii-angina pharmacy technician instructor salary [url=http://dopox.eu/antibiotics/keflex-antibiotics]cost plus pharmacy tacoma[/url]

Anonymous said...

loratadine pharmacy [url=http://exmax.eu/ketorolac/what/is/ketorolac/tromethamine/injection]what is ketorolac tromethamine injection[/url] aseptic technique in pharmacy [url=http://exmax.eu/cordarone/danazol]danazol[/url]
walmart pharmacy rockmart ga [url=http://exmax.eu/edema/peritumoral/edema]peritumoral edema[/url] certified pharmacy technician continuing education [url=[url=http://exmax.eu/coreg/coreg/info]coreg info[/url]]syntrop pharmacy[/url]
rewards being a pharmacy lawyer [url=http://exmax.eu/ketoconazole/ketoconazole/pills/for/hair/loss]ketoconazole pills for hair loss[/url] pharmacy links [url=http://exmax.eu/elavil/elavil/and/dental/surgery]elavil and dental surgery[/url]
walmart pays pharmacy techs [url=http://exmax.eu/glipizide/side/effects/from/glipizide]side effects from glipizide[/url] tesco pharmacy jobss [url=[url=http://exmax.eu/enhancement/sexual/enhancement]sexual enhancement[/url]]cvs pharmacy program[/url]
walmart online pharmacy [url=http://exmax.eu/ginseng/side/effects/of/panax/ginseng/roots]side effects of panax ginseng roots[/url] ma state board of pharmacy [url=http://exmax.eu/dutasteride/dutasteride/vs/flomax]dutasteride vs flomax[/url]
plaza pharmacy anaheim [url=http://exmax.eu/ketorolac/ketorolac/trometamol]ketorolac trometamol[/url] tracey pullman professor pharmacy [url=[url=http://exmax.eu/glimepiride/determination/of/glimepiride]determination of glimepiride[/url]]degrees in pharmacy[/url]

Anonymous said...

mp3 to cda audio converter http://music-cd.kqc.in/casio-keyboard-music altec im500ace prtble spk for ipod nano [url=http://mp3-archive.kqc.in]mp3 archive[/url]
science projects on music and sound http://winamp.kqc.in/death-note-winamp-skin stevie nicks edge of seventeen lyrics [url=http://gospel.kqc.in/country-gospel-wynonna-judd]yellow pages advertising music[/url]
halloween 111 the best music soundtrack ever http://cassidy.kqc.in/innocent-man-cassidy stevie vaughan honey bee lyric guitar [url=http://whitney-houston.kqc.in/whitney-houston-greatest]whitney houston greatest[/url]
kiss me deadly tagline http://winamp.kqc.in/winamp-karaoke brian tracey used audio books [url=http://tango.kqc.in/leon-harris-argentine-tango-dance]caroline rhea sound of music[/url]
yamaha professional audio rsa http://blues.kqc.in/whiteboy-blues research music effect on brain [url=http://mp3-archive.kqc.in/ben-folds-family-of-me-listen-mp3]ben folds family of me listen mp3[/url]
prince purple rain costume http://soundtrack-lyrics.kqc.in/soundtrack-dr-house download free hip hop beat maker [url=http://music-cd.kqc.in/jim-reeves-music]queen victoria quotes[/url]

Anonymous said...

jvc stereo computer receivers http://frank-sinatra.qev.in/best-of-frank-sinatra yamaha motif es8 88 key music production synthesizer [url=http://chris-rock.qev.in/jamiroquai-chris-rock]jamiroquai chris rock[/url]
dj unk say yes mp3 http://depeche.qev.in/depeche-mode-selling-vinyl-record institute of audio research ny [url=http://eros-ramazzotti.qev.in/eros-ramazzotti-una-storia]where can i find mac dre videos[/url]
beethoven pop culture http://britney-spears.qev.in/britney-spears-legs-open chemical brothers galvanize mp3 [url=http://cardigans.qev.in/the-cardigans-say-that-you-love-me-lyrics]the cardigans say that you love me lyrics[/url]
carrie underwood entertainment weekly http://celine-dion.qev.in/celine-dion-son-rene-picture hip hop decode [url=http://eminem.qev.in/eminem-infinite]braveheart trance[/url]
cure happy as a cat http://new-doors.qev.in/doors-atlanta more people more curruption soul [url=http://eminem.qev.in/akon-eminem-dmx-shahrukh-khan-images-download]akon eminem dmx shahrukh khan images download[/url]
armageddon death squad mp3 impaled nazarene http://chris-rock.qev.in/biography-of-chris-rock carmike cinamas in rock hill [url=http://thai-prince.qev.in/prince-valiant-son]how to turn off your ipod nano[/url]

Abbacars said...

great service and wonderfull artical......
Battersea Minicab | Battersea Airport Transfer | Streatham Airport Transfers