Canadian Law: A History

The significant moments of Canadian legal history.

last updated Friday, October 07, 2011

1660: Matthew Hale's 18 Rules for Judges

In 1660, Matthew Hale gave us 18 rules to govern the job of judging.

last updated Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Hammurabi's Code of Laws (circa 1780 B.C.)

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Thus is best known the ancient Code of Hammurabi, one of the codifications which began the very slow process of conversion from the rule of man, to the rule of law.

last updated Friday, December 16, 2011

1890: The Debut of the Electric Chair - The Electrocution of William Kemmler

First-ever use of the electric chair, New York, 1890: William Francis Kemmler is killed in the name of law.

last updated Friday, January 06, 2012

539 B.C. - The Cyrus Cylinder

The 539 B.C. Cylinder of Cyrus the Great, often described as the first human rights code of law but in any event, a very important symbol if not artifact, in the history of law.

last updated Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Ancient Egyptian Law

Law and justice in ancient Egypt.

last updated Monday, December 19, 2011

China - A Legal History

China - A Legal History is a 3-part article detailing the history of the development of law - legal history - in China from 2,500 BC to the 20th Century; a wild ride of religion, bamboo strips, tortoise shells ... and a little bit of law for good measure!

last updated Sunday, October 30, 2011

Copyright Law: The History

The history of copyright law.

last updated Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Crazy English Laws – The Sequel

Crazy English Laws II: There were more! How were we to know?!

last updated Saturday, October 15, 2011

Crazy Laws - English Style (1482-1541)

What with the benefit of centuries of hoity-toity royalty and barons, earls and the like, the Mother country of the common law just cannot be undone when it comes to crazy laws. My lords, my ladies, other ladies and gentlemen, we give you England!

last updated Friday, November 04, 2011

Crime & Punishment in Medieval England

The progress of British criminal law through the medieval ages is the history of all nations that now embrace a common law heritage. It is a story of slow progress; of epiphanies, albeit too few and too far between.

last updated Sunday, October 30, 2011

Crime and Punishment in Ancient China

The ancient Chinese may take the gold medal for creative ways to achieve "justice".

last updated Sunday, October 30, 2011

History of Real Estate Law:

Real property has traditionally been the most valuable of all property. Long are the days when possession or might made a landowner. But the history of real estate law sets a fascinating background to this branch of the law rich in verbiage and ancient principles.

last updated Sunday, October 30, 2011

Japan: A Legal History

A history of law in Japan; a legal history of Japan from "the beginnings" to modern times, in a 5-part article.

last updated Sunday, October 30, 2011

Law and Justice in the Mayan and Aztec Empires (2,600 BC-1,500 AD)

History and features of law and justice in the Mayan and Aztec Empires, 2600 B.C. to 1500 A.D.

last updated Saturday, October 15, 2011

Law and Justice Quotations

The best of the best of law and justice quotations, each with context and background on the quote and the author.

last updated Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Newgate Prison: A History of Infamy

Newgate prison, which stood for 900 years in London (1,000-1904), was hell on earth.

last updated Sunday, October 30, 2011

Origin of Law

More so than with other topics, we should consider the origin of law, lest we forget the hard-earned lessons of our blood-stained past, or the comforts of our daily lives which only the rule of law can provide.

last updated Sunday, October 30, 2011

The LAW's Hall of Horror

Torture in the name of the law over the centuries.

last updated Sunday, October 30, 2011

The Law's Holy Grail: Where? What?

The law has no true holy grail ... yet. Archaeologists have Hammurabi's code circa 1780 B.C. But complex Egyptian and Sumerian societies flourished thousands of years earlier. It could not of occurred without law. Where is the law's holy grail?

last updated Sunday, October 30, 2011