The Cayman Islands
Legal System
The Cayman Islands legal system has its foundations in English common law; this foundation has been supplement by a number of local statutes that have both changed and modernized the common law. Generally speaking common law, as opposed to civil or socialist law, is a type of legal system where legislation is continually evolving. Courts refine and create laws on a case-by-case basis. When resolving a legal dispute, in the ideal world, a common law court looks to precedents set by other courts. What this means is that when a court is resolving a dispute, it must look to see if a similar dispute was resolved in the past. If one has, then the present day court is obligated to following the same reasoning used in the prior case; this principle is called stare decisis. On the other hand, if the dispute is totally unique, the court may resolve the matter itself using general guidelines. This new decision then becomes the precedent to which all future cases are bound. Over the years, the precedents created by past decisions coalesce into a complicated set of rules that apply to a wide array of case; this collection of rules is known as “common law”. Of course, common law systems are much more complex in practice, nevertheless the principle of stare decisis as described above, is the foundation of all common law systems.
Both the Islands’ legal and judicial systems are fair and efficient. Moreover, they are continuously updated to increase the Islands’ safety and reputation as a leading financial center.
The Cayman Islands’ courts system in the Cayman Islands is simple to navigate; practice and procedure are based on English law. A Stipendiary Magistrate sitting in the Summary Court Minor is responsible for trying criminal and civil cases. The Grand Court, presided over by the Chief Justice and Grand Court Judges who are both permanent residents of the Islands, hear cases related to serious crimes and most civil cases.
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Latest news
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A Smiling, Fidgeting McCain, Learning to Rein Himself In - New York Times
Google News - The Cayman Islands, 17-February-2008
[full story]
New York Times
A Smiling, Fidgeting McCain, Learning to Rein Himself In
New York Times, United States - 7 hours ago
... his spokeswoman who was seated nearby and rolling her eyes, 'has a lot of her money hidden in the Cayman Islands' and that she earned it by 'dealing ... -
College Financial Aid Help - WMBB-TV
Google News - Panama, 17-February-2008
[full story]
College Financial Aid Help
WMBB-TV, FL - 19 hours ago
By Tuquyen Mach Panama City, FL -- The cost of a college education keeps going up, so the folks at Gulf Coast Community College are seeking to help students ... -
Huckabee the Hypocrite - Sovereign Society
Google News - The Cayman Islands, 17-February-2008
[full story]
Huckabee the Hypocrite
Sovereign Society, FL - 21 hours ago
Romney, who has a personal fortune estimated at more than $200 million, reportedly has substantial investments registered in the Cayman Islands. ...