hard cases make bad law
The proverb "hard cases make bad law" originates from Judge Robert Rolf's comment in the 1842 case _Winterbottom v Wright_, emphasizing that extreme cases are poor bases for general legal rules.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
C1Law
(legal, proverb)Laws created based on extreme situations may not be effective or fair when applied to typical cases.
Example
- The lawyer argued that hard cases make bad law, suggesting that a more balanced approach was needed.
C1Law
(legal, proverb)Exceptional or emotionally charged cases can lead to legal decisions that are not suitable for general application.
Example
- The judge warned that hard cases make bad law, cautioning against using this unusual case to set a broad legal precedent.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "hard cases make bad law":