human rights, 'arranged' marriages and nullity law: when do 'force', parental


 

 

 

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Denning Law Journal 2018 Vol 30 pp 1-2 

 

EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION  
 

Sarah Sargent 

 
 

Lord Denning is well known for many aspects of his long and 

illustrious legal career. The Denning Law Journal carries his name both in 

recognition, and furtherance of his legacy and contributions to law.  This 

is reflected in the mission statement of the Journal:  

 

“The aim of the journal is to provide a forum for the widest 

discussion of issues arising in the common law world and the 

Commonwealth, and to embrace the wider global and 

international issues of contemporary concern.  

Lord Denning recognised the importance of: 

 

 developing the common law 

 focusing on the development of law in Commonwealth 
jurisdictions 

 the need for judicial and community recognition of the 
urgency of reform and modernization of law 

 the need to preserve traditions of judicial independence, 
integrity, accountability and creativity 

 reflecting upon the interplay of law and morality 

 the role to be played by the state in the defence of the 
individual in the modern state 

 international and comparative law 

 protection and promotion of human and constitutional 
 rights 

 development of constitutional and administrative law 
The Denning Law Journal strives to reflect these in its 

publication.” 

 

This edition of the Journal is particularly reflective of the values 

espoused by Lord Denning, on the importance of the role of the common 

law in advancing legal change to keep up with a changing world.  This is 

                                                      
 Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Buckingham. 



 

 

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noted in his quote from the case of Packer v. Packer [1954] P. 15 at 22:“If 

we never do anything which has not been done before, we shall never get 

anywhere. The law will stand still whilst the rest of the world goes on; and 

that will be bad for both.” 

The collection of articles provides a view into the strength of common 

law in both changing and maintaining the rule of law across a variety of 

legal areas. This edition provides a diverse and innovative discussion that 

together highlight the view that is proffered by Lord Denning. The law 

indeed is not standing still. There is movement in the area of property law, 

environmental law, the relationship of law to technology, as well as in 

managing and resolving issues of corruption and money laundering, and 

in addressing issues of discrimination in education.  The Denning Law 

Journal provides an important platform for the necessary discussions, 

introspections, and analysis of where the law has been and where it needs 

to go, to meet the challenges of a highly technical globalised world that is 

both adapting to new developments and information while it still has not 

resolved age-old problems of discrimination, resource allocation and 

universal access to fundamental human rights.  

The Journal strives to address these issues within the context of the 

vision of Lord Denning. We are already looking forward to the 2019 

edition, which will include of the winner of a post-graduate student 

writing competition. We encourage anyone with an interest in publication 

in the 2019 edition to make a submission. Informal queries are always 

warmly welcomed.  

As ever, the production of this Journal is the result of teamwork, and it 

is important to note and give thanks to the student editors, Gbogboade 

Akitoye, Yousef Bendahane, Charley-Anne Gordon, Wardah Masood 

Hasan and Jana Ward, who gave generously of their time and knowledge 

to help in proof reading and editing. Dr James Slater guided and supported 

the students in this very important endeavor. A thanks is also due to Dr 

Jocelynne Scutt and Professor John Hatchard, for their efforts, and a final 

thanks to Sandra Clarke, who has joined our Law School as Dean of Law, 

for her support and encouragement where the Denning Law Journal is 

concerned. 

 

Dr Sarah Sargent 

Chief Editor, Denning Law Journal