Introduction to Case Law

Introduction toCase Law

Rita Lam Research Librarian, Law

28th July 2015

Horton v Sadler [2007] 1 AC 307

CASE NAME CASE CITATION

Reading the case name

Civil CasesIndo Commercial Society (Pte) Ltd v Ebrahim & Anor (S’pore)

Fisher v Bell (UK)

Criminal Cases

Public Prosecutor v Too Yong Wei (S’pore)

R v Smith (UK)

Reading the case citation

[1992] 2 SLR(R) 667

The citation tells us that the case is reported in vol 2 of the Singapore Law Reports (Reissue) for 1992, starting on page 667.

ReportVolYear Pg

English case citation

[1893] 1 QB 491

The citation tells us that the case is reported in vol 1 of the Queens Bench Law Report for 1893, starting on page 491.

ReportVolYear Pg

Reading citations

Neutral citation

Year of decision Court Sequential Number

[2007] SGHC 24

This is a system of citation where each written judgment from a particular level of court is assigned a sequential number, starting from 1 at the beginning of each calendar year.

Singapore Neutral Citations:

SGCA – Court of appeal

SGDC – District Court

SGFC – Family Court

SGHC – High Court

SGJC – Juvenile Court

SGMC – Magistrates Court

SGSC – Supreme Court

SGSCT – Small Claims Tribunal

Reading citations

Neutral citation

Year of decision Court Case Number

[2009] EWCA Crim 1457

This is a system of citation where each written judgment from a particular level of court is assigned a sequential case number, starting from 1 at the beginning of each calendar year.

England & Wales Neutral Citations:

UKHL – House of Lords

UKPC – Privy Council

EWCA Civ – Court of Appeal Civil Division

EWCA Crim – Court of Appeal Criminal Division

EWHC Admin – High Court (Administrative)

EWHC Admlty – High Court (Admiralty)

EWHC Ch – High Court (Chancery)

EWHC Comm – High Court (Commercial)

EWHC Fam – High Court (Family)

EWHC Pat – High Court (Patents)

EWHC QB – High Court (Queen’s Bench)

EWHC TCC – High Court (Tech & Construction)

Checking abbreviations

What do the abbreviations mean?

How do you know whether it is a Singapore case or an English case?

Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations http://www.legalabbrevs.cardiff.ac.uk/

WLR citation

[2002] 2 WLR 1315

Questions?

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