On the 19th March the School of Law and Criminology Research Seminar series welcomed Liam Edwards, PhD Researcher, School of Law, Ulster University, to present on ‘‘Judicial Review in the Devolved Nations, a comparative analysis’.
Judicial review is a mechanism of ensuring governmental power is limited within the rule of law. In the devolved nations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, this power is extended to include devolved primary legislation. The devolution settlements have granted the devolved nations powers to diverge from Westminster in many policy areas, yet the rate of judicial review varies greatly between Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, the rate is high with one substantive hearing per 44,000 inhabitants. Compared to the rate in Scotland being one hearing per 170,000 in Scotland; and one per 400,000 in Wales. A mixed-method approach, including a ten-year case study of judicial review judgments from the three nations and the collected experiences of legal professionals shows a significant divergence in the volume of judicial review, as well as insightful conclusions on different approaches to administrative justice.
Liam Edwards is currently a third-year PhD researcher at Ulster University School of Law, researching a thesis on comparative administrative justice between the devolved nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Previously, Liam studied the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law, and an LLB (Hons) at Bangor University. Liam has published work in constitutional and administrative law, including an article in Public Law based on his undergraduate dissertation, and publications on language rights, administrative law, and constitutional law in Northern Ireland.