(2017) the Courts, Devolution, and Constitutional Review. University of Queensland Law Journal, 36(2), Pp
McCorkindale, C., McHarg, A. and Scott, P. F. (2017) The courts, devolution, and constitutional review. University of Queensland Law Journal, 36(2), pp. 289-310. This is the author’s final accepted version. There may be differences between this version and the published version. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from it. http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/151458/ Deposited on: 14 November 2017 Enlighten – Research publications by members of the University of Glasgow http://eprints.gla.ac.uk THE COURTS, DEVOLUTION, AND CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW CHRISTOPHER MCCORKINDALE,* AILEEN MCHARG** AND PAUL F SCOTT*** I INTRODUCTION The defining feature of the United Kingdom’s (UK) traditional constitution is the absence of constitutional review. The UK Parliament, since it enjoys unlimited sovereignty, cannot be said to have acted unlawfully, and therefore its acts cannot be struck down by the courts. In recent years, however, this feature of the constitution has come under pressure from a number of different directions,1 including the establishment of devolved legislatures for Scotland and Northern Ireland in 1999,2 and for Wales in 2011.3 Since these bodies do not share Westminster’s sovereignty, they are susceptible to judicial review on the ground that they have strayed beyond their legislative competence as defined in their parent statutes, and potentially – in extreme circumstances – also at common law.4 Judicial review of a subordinate legislature is not unprecedented in the UK context. Review had been possible of legislation enacted by the former Parliament of Northern Ireland, established under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which existed from 1922 until 1972.
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