Law Reform "Heart-breaking delays and ruinous costs were the lot of suitors. Justice was dilatory,expensive,uncertain,and remote.

To the rich it was a costly lottery: to the poor a denial of rights or certain ruin. The class who profited most by its dark mysteries were the lawyers themselves." Although, this could be a fair comment on the legal system in the 1990s, these words were written by Sir Thomas Erskine May in 1861 (constitutional History of England). The social reformer Jeremy Bentham 1748 - 1832 argued for constant radical legislation to achieve the greatest happiness of the greatest number. From this time efforts were made to demystify law and to see it as a set of practical rules. From the Reform Act 1832 onwards a series of reform measures were passed. The judicature Acts 1873-75 were followed by a series of Acts codifying substantive branches of law,like the Sales of Goods Act 1839 and the partnership Act 1890. This continued with a series of reform Acts on land E.G, The law of property legislation of 1925. These various measures,however, were ad hoc responses to particular problems. There was no overall plan or consistency of effort and this was to remain the situation until the 1960s. The need for continual reforms arises for a number of reasons. Statues remain in force until repealed handsome statutes get overlooked, like the Innkeepers Act 1424. The vast amount of law and the increasing rate at which its being made has

become overwhelming; An example of this is that,according to the Home Office, the number of criminal offenses is over 70,000. In a rapidly changing society new laws have to be made to meet new needs, E.G, the criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 makes it an offense to make,distribute,advertise or posses child pornography which is stimulate by computer graphics. Responsibility for he law is somewhat diverse as the Home Secretary is responsible for the criminal law,while the Lord Chancellor is responsible for the courts and both civil and criminal procedures. There is no single body or person who can accept responsibility for reform. Why not leave law reform to the courts? The courts, through their use of the doctrine precedents, could bring about a change in the law. Some academics favor judges-made law, because its based on real cases rather than legislation which is made in an artificial way. However, Judges changing the law conflicts with their constitutional position,as its up to parliament to do this. Other arguments against judges reforming the law have been put forward by Norman Marsh, a former Law Commissioner: a) A judge can't make assumptions about peoples values,this is better left to the Parliament: b)Reform depends on a case coming before the courts c)A reforming decision may be hard on the losing

party d)The system of precedents is slower than legislation e)The courts are not well informed on the background to problems as that can't consult experts or interested bodies. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LAW REFORM AGENCIES In 1921 an American lawyer,Benjamin Cardozo, in "A Ministry of Justice" Harvard Law Review,1921, suggested a permanent body:"The courts are not helped as they could and ought to be in the adaptation of law to justice. The main reason they are not helped is because there is no now whose business it is to give warning that help is needed" In 1934 the Lord Chancellor set up the Law Revision Committee which became the Law Reform Committee in 1952. It is a part time body of practitioners and academics whose task it to examine and report on any matters of the civil law referred to it by the Lord Chancellor. In 1959 the home secretary set up the Revision Committee, a part time body,to carry out a similar role as regards criminal law,and it examines matters referred to it by the Home Secretary. In 1965 a White Paper proposed a setting up a full time body: "One of the hallmarks of an advanced society is that its laws should not only be just but also that they be kept up to date and be readily accessible to all who are affected by them"

This was quickly followed by the Law Commissions ACt 1965, which set up 2 commissions, 1 for england and wales(jointly) and 1 for scotland. Section 3 of the Act provides: "It shall be the duty ofthe commissionersto keep under review all the lawswith a view to its systematic development and reform, including in particular the codification of such law,the elimination of anomalies,the repeal of obsolete and unnecessary enactments and generally the simplification and modernization of the law" The section went on to provide that the commissions should: a)consider proposals for reforms made to them b)prepare and give to the minister programmes for the reform of different branches of the law; c)prepare draft bills for matters approved; d)prepare consolidation of statues on request by the Minister; e)give advice on reform to Government departments and others; f)obtain information about other legal systems which might help in the task of reform. Who contribute to reform of the law?