Privy Council Practice

About this book

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is the court of final appeal for jurisdictions including the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, and for those Commonwealth countries that have retained the appeal to Her Majesty in Council. This volume aims to explain the JCPC's unique procedures, practices, and, where relevant, jurisprudence in a manner which is readily accessible, even to those unfamiliar with it. It will provide valuable guidance to practitioners considering whether to seek recourse to the JCPC and, if an appeal is pursued, throughout the appeal process. This comprehensive guide to the JCPC is the first work of its kind since 1937. It includes chapters on jurisdiction, conditions of appeal, precedent, and the JCPC's role in interpreting constitutions as part of a workload which still ranges from death row criminal cases to heavy commercial disputes. Importantly, the authors provide detailed commentary on the complex Rules and Practice Directions that underwent a significant overhaul in 2009, for which no dedicated volume currently exists. Emphasis is placed on topics of greatest practical importance to litigants, including timings, the form and content of written cases, issues of costs, and the role of the Registrar.