Reviewed case brief

Entick v. Carrington

(1765) 19 St Tr 1029

(1765) 19 St Tr 1029 · Court of Common Pleas (England)

trespass-to-landexecutive-powerconstitutional-limits
Court
Court of Common Pleas (England)
Year
1765
Subjects
Law of Torts
Reviewed
2026-08-02

Rule established

Even state officials require positive legal authority to justify entering private property; unauthorised entry, regardless of claimed governmental purpose, constitutes trespass absent genuine lawful justification.

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        (1765) 19 St Tr 1029

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.