Landmarks in the Law

by Alfred Thompson Denning

Written in Lord Denning's familiar style, this book discusses cases and characters whose names will be known to all readers, grouped together under headings such as High Treason, Freedom of the Press, and Murder. Lord Denning also covers what he describes as his most important case - the Profumo Inquiry; he discusses the key issues and characters involved in this scandal, which at the time seemed likely to bring down the Government.

Genres: Law, History, Nonfiction, British Literature, School

411 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 1984

About the author

Alfred Thompson "Tom" Denning, Baron Denning, OM, PC, DL, commonly known as Lord Denning, was a British lawyer and judge. He gained degrees in mathematics and law at Oxford University, although his studies were disrupted by his service in the First World War. He then began his legal career, distinguishing himself as a barrister and becoming a King's Counsel in 1938.

Denning became a judge in 1944 with an appointment to the Family Division of the High Court of Justice and was made a Lord Justice of Appeal in 1948 after less than five years in the High Court. He became a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in 1957 and after five years in the House of Lords returned to the Court of Appeal as Master of the Rolls in 1962, a position he held for twenty years. In retirement he wrote several books and continued to offer opinions on the state of the common law through his writing and his position in the House of Lords.

One of the most publicly known judges thanks to his report on the Profumo Affair, Denning was held in high regard by much of the judiciary, the Bar and the public, and was noted for his bold judgments running counter to the law at the time. During his 38 year career as a judge he made large changes to the common law, particularly while in the Court of Appeal, and although many of his decisions were overturned by the House of Lords several of them were confirmed by Parliament, which passed statutes in line with his judgments. Although appreciated for his role as 'the people's judge' and his support for the individual, Denning was also controversial for his campaign against the common law principle of precedent, for comments he made regarding the Birmingham Six and Guildford Four and as Master of the Rolls for his conflict with the House of Lords.

Reviews

[Oscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise and highly informative view into English Common Law, but maybe an even better view into English culture as it legislates and litigates itself through time.

[Alastair · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy to pick up and put down tour through history’s interesting cases. Denning’s style is concise and punchy which makes for a fairly light read and he is pleasantly un-technical or jargon-heavy.

The two things that let the book down: firstly, though probably not too bad by the standards of the time, sections appear very out of date. Some comments about “homosexuals” in particular are skin-crawling backward and make for tough reading. Other similar sections read as rather condescending and paternalistic.

This issue is perhaps excusable for the period the book was written in (perhaps). Less justifiable is the self-serving discussion of the Profumo affair, that Lord Denning conducted an inquiry into. It totally lacks details and just repeats the statement that Denning stands by his report - which let Profumo off without getting at the moral questions in the case at all.

It would have been nice to see Denning cast a critical eye at his report in his twilight years but he stood by his light-touch report, despite at the same time noting that his inquiry turned up “all sorts of indiscretions”. While the rest of the book is quite engaging and refreshingly straight-forwarded delivered, the end makes Lord Denning appear something of an establishment stooge. Which was, ultimately, a shame. I would have come away happier with the book without the discussion of Denning’s most famous case.

[Ilyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

really interesting - introduced me to the existing debates in the law. a bit outdated (since the book was written a while ago) but it’s interesting that a lot of the discussions prevail even at this time.

found the narrative to be very engaging as well

[Nicholas Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating cases. Highly readable and enjoyable in Lord Denning's quaint and highly opinionated writing style.

[Tom Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly readable: Landmarks covers a wide range of core legal subjects in a direct and plain way.

[Piajoyevangelistaquiapo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Like it very much

[Tatiana Terekhova · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very hard read for me, but it was worth it. Invaluable collection of court cases that formed up the Western civilization.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice law book