21 quotes
It is a Reasonable presumption that a man who sleeps upon his rights has not got much right.
Ex parte Hall; In re Wood (1883)
The Court must never forget, and will never forget, first of all, the rights of family life which are sacred.
Courts do not exist for the sake of discipline, but for the sake of deciding matters in controversy.
Cropper v. Smith (1884)
The only case in which I can conceive a person having breakfast over night is that he is not likely to have it next morning.
Judges, like Caesar's wife, should be above suspicion.
Leeson v. General Council of Medical Education and Registration (1889)
Most businesses require liberal dealing.
Hutton v. West Cork Railway Co (1883)
The director is really a watch-dog, and the watch-dog has no right without the knowledge of his master to take a sop from a possible wolf.
In re North Australian Territory Co (1891)
An English Court cannot judge by the light of nature.
Hyman v. Helm (1883)
People must not be wiser than the experience of mankind.
Filburn v. People's Palace and Aquarium Co (1890)
A collection of records may be the result of professional knowledge, research, and skill, just as a collection of curiosities is the result of the skill and knowledge of the antiquarian or virtuoso.
Lyell v. Kennedy (1884)
At common law, the Attorney-General is, when he is exercising his functions as an officer of the Crown, in no case that I know of a Court in the ordinary sense.
In the matter of Van Gelder's Patent (1888)
We must take the thing in the grip of our hands.
An honest blunder in the use of the language is not dishonest... What is honest is not dishonest.
Angus v. Clifford (1891)
When I hear of an ‘equity’ in a case like this, I am reminded of a blind man in a dark room—looking for a black hat—which isn’t there.
The rain, it raineth on the just
And also on the unjust fella:
But chiefly on the just, because
The unjust steals the just’s umbrella.
The object of the discipline enforced by the Court in case of contempt of court is not to vindicate the dignity of the Court or the person of the Judge, but to prevent undue interference with the administration of justice.
I believe that obiter dicta, like the proverbial chickens of destiny, come home to roost sooner or later in a very uncomfortable way to the Judges who have uttered them, and are a great source of embarrassment in future cases.
L.J., Cooke v. New River Co (1888)
If no appeal were possible, I have no great hesitation in saying that this would not be a desirable country to live in. . . . It is quite true that there is enough difficulty in appealing as it is; but if there is to be no appeal at all possible the system would be intolerable.
The law has armed the High Court of Justice with the power, and imposed on it the duty of preventing brevi manu and by summary proceedings any attempt to interfere with the administration of justice. It is on that ground, and not on any exaggerated notion of the dignity of individuals that insults to Judges are not allowed.
In re Johnson (1887)
"Judicial Politeness"
Bowen as caricatured by Spy (Leslie Ward) in Vanity Fair, March 1892
Courts do not exist for the sake of discipline, but for the sake of deciding matters in controversy.