header-logo header-logo

Ouster clauses: left out in the cold?

07 July 2023 / Neil Parpworth
Issue: 8032 / Categories: Features , Public
printer mail-detail
129525
A court may be willing to accept that its supervisory jurisdiction has been excluded by giving effect to an ouster clause: Neil Parpworth examines these limited circumstances
  • In the recent decision in R (on the application of Oceana) v Upper Tribunal and another [2023] EWHC 791 (Admin), the judge held that the supervisory jurisdiction of the court had been successfully ousted by s 11A of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.
  • However, it is to be hoped that this is not replicated in other legislation, as any attempt to limit the jurisdiction of the courts to review the lawfulness of executive action has significant implications for the rule of law.

Hitherto, ouster clauses have been an uncommon feature in legislation. This is neither surprising nor a cause for concern, since the underlying purpose of such a clause is to exclude or prevent the supervisory jurisdiction of the courts from being exercised. Where ouster clauses have been employed, the response of the courts has generally been to interpret

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
back-to-top-scroll