Common Law and Equity
Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, Book 1, 1765, Audio Version
Learn common law the way our founding fathers learned it -- from Blackstone. This audio version comes from Librivox.org. Listen while driving your car. Total length is about 18 hours.
commentaries_blackstone_0810_librivox_64kb_mp3.zip 516 MB
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An Abridgment of Kent's Commentaries on American Law, Eben Francis Thompson, 1886
Just as Blackstone detailed the laws of England, Kent did the same to American Law. This is an abridged version.
An interesting quote: "Statutes are likewise to be construed in reference to the principles of the common law; for it is not to be presumed the legislature intended to make any innovation upon the common law further than the case absolutely required." p. 95
kents_commentaries_on_american_law_-_an_abridgment.pdf
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A Selection of Legal Maxims - Herbert Broom, 1852
As explained in the Primer (see the Training Documents page),the common law is unwritten and based upon usage and custom. Evidence of it is found in the writings of recognized authorities. Maxims may be a useful source:
"In the legal science, perhaps more frequently than in any other, reference must be made to first principles. ... I have devoted considerable time, and much labour, to consulting the Reports, both ancient and modern, as also the standing Treatises on leading branches of the Law, in order to ascertain what Maxims are of most practical importance, and most frequently cited, commented on, and applied." -- Preface to the First Edition.
The maxims are listed in Latin in the table of contents; the english translations are given in the body.
a_selection_of_legal_maxims.pdf
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A Treatise on the Law of Crimes, Clark and Marshall, 1900
To see the extent of the common law in regards to crimes, just read the table of contents.
a_treatise_on_the_law_of_crimes_clark_and_marshall_1900.pdf
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A Treatise on Criminal Pleading and Practice, Wharton 1880
To get an overview of pleading and practice of the common law; just read the table of contents.
a_treatise_on_criminal_pleading_and_practice_-_wharton_1880.pdf
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An Introduction to the Law Relative to Trials at Nisi Prius, Sir Francis Buller, 1817
To get an overview of common law civil actions, just read the table of contents. See Understanding Nisi Prius in the Training Documents file.
an_introduction_to_the_law_relative_to_trials_at_nisi_prius.pdf
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All about statutes.
commentaries_on_the_written_laws_and_their_interpretation_-_joel_prentiss_bishop.pdf
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A paper analyyzing the pros and cons of codifying the common law into statutes.
is_codification_of_the_law_expedient.pdf
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The Principles of Equity, Edmund Henry Turner Snell, 1872
Learn about the body of law called Equity.
equity_the_principles_of_equity.pdf
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Learn about the police power; it's how they exercise control over your kids. See Child Protective Services and Parental Government in the Training Documents file.
a_treatise_on_the_limitations_of_police_power_in_the_united_states.pdf
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The Grand Jury
The Grand Jury, George Edwards, 1906
Learn about the grand jury.
the_grand_jury_-_george_edwards.pdf
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Proving Federal Crimes, Ch. 3 - The Grand Jury , 1980
The nuts and bolts of grand jury practice from the federal perspective, including numerous citations.
proving_federal_crimes_-_ch._3_-_the_grand_jury.pdf
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Other
A Dissertation On the Manner of Acquiring the Character and Privileges of a Citizen of the United States - David Ramsay, 1789
A short but interesting discussion of citizen vs. subject from 1789. 7 pages.
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