Impact of the UK Supreme Court
Summary
TLDRThe Supreme Court's decisions play a crucial role in shaping society and influencing daily life. This video explores how the Court addresses important issues such as disability rights, prenuptial agreements, and assisted dying. It highlights a case involving a heterosexual couple who challenged the law that restricted civil partnerships to same-sex couples, arguing it violated human rights. The Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that the law was discriminatory, leading to a change in legislation. The Court's judgments ensure legal certainty and consistency, as lower courts are bound by its decisions.
Takeaways
- ๐ The Supreme Court's decisions play a significant role in shaping society and impacting everyday life.
- ๐ The Supreme Court delivers judgments on various important issues such as disability rights, prenuptial agreements, and assisted dying.
- ๐ The Supreme Court has 12 Justices, but cases are typically heard by a panel of five, ensuring a majority decision can be made.
- ๐ The Court's decisions often have significant societal effects, such as in the case of civil partnerships for same-sex couples.
- ๐ The law previously allowed only same-sex couples to form civil partnerships, while heterosexual couples could only marry.
- ๐ A heterosexual couple challenged this law, arguing it was discriminatory and violated their human rights under the European Convention.
- ๐ The case went through two lower courts before reaching the Supreme Court in 2018, which ruled that the law was discriminatory.
- ๐ The Supreme Court issued a declaration that the Civil Partnership Act 2004 was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
- ๐ Parliament, as the supreme legislative body, responded by amending the law to allow heterosexual couples to form civil partnerships.
- ๐ The Supreme Court's decisions are binding on lower courts, ensuring legal certainty and consistency in how parties are treated.
Q & A
What role does the Supreme Court play in society?
-The Supreme Court's decisions shape society and affect everyday life, particularly in areas like disability rights, prenuptial agreements, and assisted dying.
How many justices are there in the Supreme Court?
-There are 12 Supreme Court Justices, though cases are typically heard by a panel of five.
Why does the Supreme Court always use an odd number of justices?
-The panel is made up of an odd number of justices to ensure that a majority decision can be reached, even if not all the justices agree.
What was the central issue in the case discussed in the script?
-The case involved a heterosexual couple who wished to enter into a civil partnership, but were unable to because the law only allowed same-sex couples to do so at the time.
How did the law change in 2013 regarding same-sex marriage?
-In 2013, same-sex marriage became lawful, giving same-sex couples the option to either marry or enter into a civil partnership.
What was the legal issue with the civil partnership law for heterosexual couples?
-Heterosexual couples were not allowed to enter into civil partnerships, whereas same-sex couples had the choice to marry or form a civil partnership.
What did the couple argue in their human rights challenge?
-The couple argued that the law barring different-sex couples from entering into civil partnerships violated their human rights, specifically the prohibition on discrimination and the right to respect for private life under the European Convention of Human Rights.
What was the outcome of the case in 2018?
-In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that the restriction on different-sex couples forming civil partnerships was discriminatory and unjustified, issuing a declaration that the law was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
What was Parliament's response to the Supreme Court's decision?
-Following the Supreme Court's decision, Parliament changed the law to allow heterosexual couples to form civil partnerships.
Why are the Supreme Court's decisions important?
-The Supreme Court's decisions are binding on lower courts, ensuring certainty and consistency in the law and how parties are treated.
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