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Who was Sir Edward Coke and how did he defend judicial independence from royal power?
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Administrative law
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Sir Edward Coke (1552–1634) was a prominent British jurist and politician who served as attorney general, chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and chief justice of the Court of King’s Bench. He is celebrated for his steadfast defense of the common law against the expansion of royal prerogative during the Stuart period.12
Coke defended judicial independence through several key actions:
- Asserting Legal Supremacy: He famously argued that the common law was the supreme law of the land and that the king could not personally adjudicate cases or alter the law through royal proclamations.12
- Defying Royal Interference: He resisted attempts by the crown to influence judicial decisions, including refusing to consult with the king on cases before they were heard in court.1
- Challenging Prerogative Courts: He opposed the encroachment of prerogative courts—such as the Court of High Commission—on the jurisdiction of common-law courts.12
- Legislative Advocacy: After his dismissal from the bench, he entered Parliament and helped draft the Petition of Right in 1628, which established legal limits on royal power.12