Reviewed case brief

Heydon's Case

(1584) 76 ER 637

(1584) 76 ER 637 · Court of Exchequer (England)

mischief-rulepurposive-interpretationfour-questionsstatutory-interpretation
Court
Court of Exchequer (England)
Year
1584
Subjects
Interpretation of Statutes
Reviewed
2026-08-02

Rule established

The Mischief Rule requires courts to consider what defect the statute was enacted to remedy, and interpret the statute to suppress that mischief and advance the remedy

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        (1584) 76 ER 637; verified via Westlaw, Halsbury's Laws

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