If you are wondering: Why is statute law better than commonlaw, you’ve come to the right place. The two systems are based on statutes and judgments from years past. Commonlaw is a procedural system based on court decisions, while statutory law is based on statutes and judgments from days past. Judges use precedents to make decisions about your case, and they ignore the unique circumstances of the case at hand.
As a result, common law is more malleable than statutes. Because commonlaw courts aren’t bound by precedent, they can quickly adapt the law to the latest trends. It also evolves gradually, without a sharp break in the middle. Legislators often delay enacting new laws until conditions have deteriorated to the point where it’s impossible to ignore. If you’re looking for precise law, you’ll need to consult cases that have used precedents to make decisions in similar cases.
In addition to caselaw, common law has a much larger scope. Common law laws include the principles of contract and tort law. If you’re a victim of a bodily injury, you’ll be able to sue for medical costs, pain and suffering, and loss of earnings. It also covers loss of quality of life, emotional distress, and disfigurement. In addition to this, common law laws allow you to sue for other damages such as disfigurement or emotional distress.
Although common law is older than statute law, it continues to influence the development of new legislation. For example, the U.K. has long had a common law offense called outraging public decency. This has allowed authorities to prosecute “upskirting” – sticking a camera between someone’s legs and taking pictures or videos of private parts without their consent. That’s a serious offense.
