Dimes v Grand Junction Canal
Encyclopedia
Dimes v Grand Junction Canal (1852) was a case heard by the House of Lords
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The case covers the point that "Judges must not appear to be biased or impartial". Lord Cottenham, the judge who sat over a previous case in which canal company that brought a case in equity against a landowner. Lord Cottenham was later discovered to have had shares in said company. The case was held stating that although there was no suggestion that the Lord Chancellor had in fact been influenced by his interest in the company, no case should be decided by a judge with a financial interest in the outcome. It was held that the Lord Chancellor
was disqualified from sitting as a judge in the case because he had an interest in the action.
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
The case covers the point that "Judges must not appear to be biased or impartial". Lord Cottenham, the judge who sat over a previous case in which canal company that brought a case in equity against a landowner. Lord Cottenham was later discovered to have had shares in said company. The case was held stating that although there was no suggestion that the Lord Chancellor had in fact been influenced by his interest in the company, no case should be decided by a judge with a financial interest in the outcome. It was held that the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
was disqualified from sitting as a judge in the case because he had an interest in the action.