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This petition is now closed, as its deadline has passed.
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to change the law so that the judiciary and juries can take into account the spirit/intent of the law as well as the letter of the law when considering the innocence or guilt of defendants. More details
Submitted by Peter Stokes – Deadline to sign up by: 17 March 2009 – Signatures: 15
More details from petition creator
Literalist judge Lord Tenterden stipulated, in the 19th century, that the letter rather than the spirit/intent of the law should be followed. “Regardless of the consequences.” One of the consequence is that lawyers now take far more time and earn far more money arguing protocol, semantics and legal precedents than they would if attempting to swiftly determine guilt or innocence on the basis of the available facts, common sense and the spirit/intent of the law. Another consequence is that it’s far easier for criminals to escape justice on a legal technicality.
