Common Law

Eves, William

Abstract

The Common Law is a body of law, developed over time from the decisions and practices of courts, upon which the English legal system has developed. Through the impact of British colonial expansion, the English Common Law has also formed the basis of the legal systems of the United States and many Commonwealth countries. The history of the English Common Law may be traced back at least to the twelfth century. Here, a programme of legal reform undertaken during the reign of Henry II (1154–89) began to routinise royal intervention in land disputes and increase royal control over criminal pleas. English justice became increasingly centralised around the Crown and the foundations were laid for further legal development in the following centuries.

Citation

Eves, W. (2023). Common Law

• Other Type: Other
• Online Publication Date: Jun 19, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Sep 4, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 9, 2023
• Publisher: Routledge
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780415791182-rmeo195-1
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/25061665
• Related Public URLs: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/entries/10.4324/9780415791182-RMEO195-1/common-law-william-eves?context=rroms
• Additional Information: Routledge Resources Online - Medieval Studies