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BOOK REVIEW JUDICIAL REVIEW Fourth Edition General Editor: Helen Fenwick LexisNexis ISBN: 978 1 4057 49138 www.lexisnexis.co.uk JUDICIAL REVIEW A GROWTH INDUSTRY? HERE’S A WEALTH OF ADVICE, COMMENT AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS COMPLEX AND CONTROVERSIAL AREA OF LAW An appreciation by Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers We were rather taken by Gavin Drewry’s remark, as part of his contributory chapter included in this enlightening book, that ‘judicial review of administrative action has apparently been something of a growth industry.’ How right after 40 years when Stanley de Smith described it as inevitably “sporadic and peripheral” by its nature (then). There can be little doubt that Drewry’s view is true today -- and a good thing too -- as judicial review in all its complexities has provided, and continues to provide, a legal remedy aimed at righting administrative wrongs. Growth indicates change, of course – and, yes, the area of judicial review continues to evolve, generating new developments of which the alert practitioner needs to be aware in order to construct an effective response. The astonishingly lengthy Table of Cases -- over 100 pages -- bears this out. Drewry is one of a very long roster of expert and illustrious contributors to this new fourth edition of Judicial Review, now under the able editorship of Helen Fenwick. As this is a contributor-led book, it offers practitioners access to a variety of informed views and opinions, which is always very useful if you are an advocate searching for a solution. As Fenwick explains, the book is concerned with ‘the impact of new developments once they have more fully taken effect, rather than with their innovation’. It deals with, for example, a range of important developments under the Human Rights Act 1988 which affect judicial review, as examined in the new chapter on proportionality. The book examines and clarifies a wide range of other areas, from the nature of judicial review and its historical background to procedural rules, natural justice, bias, devolution and of course much, much more. Indeed, all recent developments in judicial review have been covered, in accordance with the editor’s overall modern aim to suit us as the users. Research resources abound, including, in addition to the extensive Table of Cases, (alphabetized, thank goodness) there are tables of statutes, statutory instruments, codes of practice, European and international legislation and a further table of foreign legislation. So if you’re a practitioner, or in any way connected professionally or even generally with judicial review, it’s vital in our view to add this book to your judicial review library. We would add here, however, that the current controversial problems of mounting judicial review remain even though they have been admirably well explained in the four successive editions of this book dating from the time that Supperstone J was the first editor. The book provides a most useful statement, but, because of the sheer expense, popularity and complexity of judicial review today, we expect another review of its mechanisms, with a view to giving it a comprehensive overhaul to suit current access to justice policy as the last modern changes were undertaken 30 years ago and much has changed from de Smith’s earlier historic description from the 1970s.

2023-03-08 14:12