Civil Law
Civil law is a legal system that focuses on resolving disputes and conflicts between individuals or entities, often through compensation or restitution. It is one of the two major legal traditions globally, the other being common law. Civil law systems are based on codified laws and statutes, with comprehensive and detailed legal codes that outline various aspects of private law, such as contracts, property, family, and torts.
Codification :
Civil law systems are typically characterized by comprehensive written legal codes that serve as the primary source of law. These codes cover a wide range of legal matters and provide a detailed framework for resolving disputes.
Inquisitorial System :
In civil law systems, the judge often takes an active role in investigating and gathering evidence. This is in contrast to common law systems, where the adversarial system places more responsibility on the parties involved in presenting evidence.
Precedent :
Unlike common law systems, where judicial decisions and precedents play a significant role in shaping the law, civil law systems place less emphasis on precedent. Judges in civil law jurisdictions are generally bound by the written law and codes.
Specialization of Judges :
In civil law systems, judges are typically career legal professionals who are trained and appointed to the bench based on their legal expertise. They may have a more specialized role compared to common law judges.
Comprehensive Legal Codes :
Civil law jurisdictions often have detailed and comprehensive legal codes that cover various areas of law. These codes are enacted by legislatures and serve as the primary source of legal rules.