How the power of judicial review was established and why it was important to the judicial branch?

What is judicial review? 

Judicial review is a kind of court case, in which someone (the “claimant”) challenges the lawfulness of a government decision.  

This can be the decision of a central government department, another government body such as a regulator, a local authority, or certain other bodies when they are performing a public function. 

If the claimant wins, then the government decision can be declared unlawful, or quashed. That will sometimes mean that the decision has to be made again. Alternatively, the court can order the government to do or not do something. 

The law which applies in cases of this kind is sometimes called “public law” or “administrative law”. In very important cases which concern fundamental rights or the relationships between democratic institutions, it is sometimes called “constitutional law”. 

On what grounds can a government decision be overturned by the courts? 

There are three main grounds of judicial review: illegality, procedural unfairness, and irrationality.  

A decision can be overturned on the ground of illegality if the decision-maker did not have the legal power to make that decision, for instance because Parliament gave them less discretion than they thought. 

A decision can be overturned on the ground of procedural unfairness if the process leading up to the decision was improper. This might, for instance, be because a decision-maker who is supposed to be impartial was biased. Or it might be because a decision-maker who is supposed to give someone the chance to make representations before deciding on their case failed to do so. 

A decision can be overturned on the ground of irrationality if it is so unreasonable that no reasonable person, acting reasonably, could have made it. This is a very high bar to get over, and it is rare for the courts to grant judicial review on this basis.  

In addition, a decision can be overturned if a public authority has acted in a way which is incompatible with human rights that are given effect by the Human Rights Act 1998. There is one exception to this, though: if the public authority is merely doing what parliament told it to do, then it is not acting unlawfully even if it does act incompatibly with one of those rights. 

A judge cannot quash or declare unlawful a government decision merely on the basis that the judge would have made a different decision, or that the decision was wrong.  

Can the courts overturn legislation in judicial review cases? 

The courts cannot overturn or quash primary legislation passed by parliament. This is because, in the UK constitution, parliament is sovereign. 

The courts can overturn secondary legislation, made by ministers, on the normal grounds of judicial review.  

In addition, while the UK is in the Brexit transition period, the courts must “disapply” legislation that is incompatible with EU law.

How many judicial review cases are there, and how many are successful? 

In 2018, some 3,597 claims for judicial review were lodged (commenced) in the High Court. However, most cases do not get very far, because a claimant must convince the court that they have an “arguable” case in order to be granted permission to proceed to a full hearing.  

Only 184 cases, or about 5% of total cases commenced, reached a full oral hearing in 2018. The rest were mostly refused permission to proceed, withdrawn, or resolved out of court. 

Of the cases that did proceed to a full hearing, the government body under challenge won 50% and lost 40%. The other cases were mostly withdrawn or have not yet reached a conclusion. 

Is judicial review being modified? 

The Conservative manifesto said that the government would “update” administrative law to ensure a “proper balance” between individual rights, national security and effective government. The manifesto also said that the government would ensure that judicial review “is not abused to conduct politics by another means or to create needless delays.” 

At some point in this parliament, it is therefore likely that the law in this area will change. The government may pursue procedural changes, for instance by limiting the class of people who can bring a case. Or, it may pursue substantive changes, changing the grounds on which a government decision can be overturned in court.  

However, the manifesto promised to set up a commission in the first year of the parliament to examine these issues in depth, so it is unlikely that the government will bring forward legislation on judicial review until that commission has reported.

What is the power of judicial review and why is it important what case established the power of judicial review?

The best-known power of the Supreme Court is judicial review, or the ability of the Court to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution, is not found within the text of the Constitution itself. The Court established this doctrine in the case of Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Why was the establishment of judicial review important to the concept?

Because the power of judicial review can declare that laws and actions of local, state, or national government are invalid if they conflict with the Constitution. It also gives courts the power to declare an action of the executive or legislative branch to be unconstitutional.

What is judicial review why is it significant?

Judicial review has two important functions, like, of legitimizing government action and the protection of constitution against any undue encroachment by the government. Judicial review is considered a basic structure of the constitution (Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain Case 1975).

How was the power of judicial review established quizlet?

Judicial review was established by John Marshall and his associates in Marbury v. Madison. It was an act past by the first Congress that established the first federal courts and organized the Supreme Court comprised of a chief justice and five associates, as well as federal district and circuit courts.