Landmark Public Law cases

Court declares Secretary of State's search warrant unlawful, establishing limits on government power

Local authorities must act reasonably, owing fiduciary duty to ratepayers.

Local authorities cannot subsidise transport fares in breach of fiduciary duty.

Supreme Court guarantees prisoners' right to fair parole hearings

The Crown cannot create crimes or change law by proclamation without parliamentary consent.

King cannot create or change law by proclamation without Parliament

Courts cannot question Parliament's internal procedures when examining the validity of Acts.

Judges cannot decide cases where they have any financial interest whatsoever.

No one should be condemned unheard - natural justice requires fair hearing.

Statutory schemes override prerogative powers in the same field.

Justice must not only be done, but must manifestly be seen to be done.

Later Acts of Parliament impliedly repeal earlier conflicting statutory provisions.

Solicitors: Norman, Hart & Mitchell; Sharpe, Pritchard & Co., for G.

Court establishes landmark test for challenging unreasonable government decisions

Courts cannot review validity of Acts of Parliament; UK constitutional arrangements justiciable

Police chief's dismissal without hearing violates natural justice principles

Crown liable to compensate for property destroyed under wartime prerogative powers.

Ministers cannot refuse to exercise statutory powers for improper purposes

Courts can review admin decisions despite ouster clauses if jurisdictional error found

Administrative bodies may adopt policies but must consider exceptional cases

Public bodies must act fairly when departing from established policies or creating legitimate expectations.

Courts cannot question the validity of Acts of Parliament once properly enacted.

Government loses bid to suppress Cabinet minister's political diaries

Home Secretary cannot abuse statutory powers to punish lawful licence purchases

Applicant must have sufficient interest to seek judicial review of tax authority decisions

Legitimate expectation may arise from representations even without legal right to hearing.

Challenges to public law decisions must generally be brought by judicial review, not private action

Courts cannot invalidate Acts of Parliament regardless of international law breaches.

Courts must objectively determine jurisdictional facts in immigration detention cases.

House of Lords sets limits on royal prerogative power in national security context

House of Lords rules prerogative powers subject to judicial review

Private bodies exercising public functions can face judicial review

No injunction for confidential information already in public domain

EU law supremacy requires domestic courts to disapply conflicting national legislation.

Ratification of Maastricht Treaty a non-justiciable matter of high policy.

Apparent bias test: would fair-minded observer conclude real possibility of bias?

House of Lords allows courts to consult Hansard for statutory interpretation

House of Lords allows withdrawal of life support from vegetative patient

Court may grant declaratory relief concerning prerogative of mercy despite no power to compel pardon

Life prisoners entitled to reasons for tariff decisions under natural justice principles.

Crown and ministers can be held in contempt of court

Ministers cannot use prerogative powers to frustrate Parliament's statutory scheme

Crown immunity protects MoD from vicarious liability for acts causing death/injury to servicemen.

Ministers cannot adopt blanket policies that fetter discretionary statutory powers.

Defendants can challenge bye-law validity as defence in criminal proceedings.

Legitimate expectation requires clear, unambiguous representation to specific individual or group

Judges must be independent and appear independent; undisclosed interests invalidate judicial decisions.

Court clarifies housing authority duties to homeless during legislative transition

House of Lords uses Human Rights Act to reinterpret rape shield law