Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough: Quotes about laws

Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough was Lord Chief Justice of England. Explore interesting quotes on law.

Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough: 42 quotes0 likes

“The law of England is a law of liberty”

R. v. Cobbett (1804), 29 How. St. Tr. 49.
Context: The law of England is a law of liberty, and, consistently with this liberty, we have not what is called an imprimatur (let it be printed); there is no such preliminary licence necessary. But if a man publish a paper, he is exposed to the penal consequences, as he is in every other act, if it be illegal.

“It is a principle of law, that a person intends to do that which is the natural effect of what he does.”

Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough

Beckwith v. Wood and another (1817), 2 Starkie, 266.

“Every one must be supposed to be cognizant of a public law.”

Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough

Smith v. Beadnell (1807), 1 Camp. 33.

“Every man must be taken to be cognizant of the law, otherwise there is no saying to what extent the excuse of ignorance may not be Law carried. It would be urged in almost every case.”

Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough

Bilbie v. Lumley (1802), 2 East, 469.

“It has been sometimes said, communis error facit jus; but I say communis opinio is evidence of what the law is; not where it is an opinion merely floating and theoretical floating in the minds of persons but where it has been made the ground-work and substratum of practice.”

Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough

Isherwood v. Oldknow (1815), 3M. &S. (K. B. Rep.) 396, 397.