Private Law Theory

INTRODUCTION
The UK Supreme Court (‘UKSC’) is the final court of appeal on points of law in all civil and, with the exception of Scotland, all criminal cases in the UK. Hearing appeals (ie its appellate jurisdiction) comprises the vast bulk of the UKSC’s work, although there is a very limited original jurisdiction in relation to a few matters (eg references from the devolved legislatures in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales). The UK has no written constitution and the UKSC cannot strike down statutes. But the UKSC and lower courts have a constitutional role for example in ensuring, through hearing applications for judicial review, that public authorities, including the Government, act lawfully within their powers …

Lord Burrows, Working Methods of the UK Supreme Court. This is a lightly revised version of a presentation given at the 7th COMBAR (Commercial Bar Association) India Roundtable on 13 September 2025 in Mumbai.