In 2023, it will be 150 years since the passing of the Judicature Act 1873, the first of two landmark statutes which fundamentally re-organised the administration of civil justice in England and Wales. Today, the Judicature Acts are chiefly noted for their effect on the law of Equity. Prior to the Acts, Equity was developed and applied in a distinct set of Chancery courts; with the Acts, the separate court system was abolished, and courts were given powers to apply both equitable and common law rules. There was immediate debate as to the proper role of Equity after the Acts. Controversy as to its role continues to this day throughout the common law world.
On 1 and 2 April 2022, Steven Elliott QC of One Essex Court and Professor Ben McFarlane of St John’s College, Oxford will bring together an international group of academics, judges and practitioners to present papers examining the operation of Equity today. The papers will examine specific equitable principles and doctrines, seeing how they can best be understood today, and how they might develop in the future. The conference will be held at St John’s College, Oxford, and there will be a dinner in the Hall of St John’s College on the evening of Friday 1 April.
The conference is intended to reach out beyond academia and the organisers warmly invite practising lawyers and judges. Further information may be found on the conference webpage, through which participants may register. Enquiries should be directed to equityconf@law.ox.ac.uk or to selliott@oeclaw.co.uk.