In this paper, we set out what it means to offer a 'biography' of a law, illustrating the discussion through the example of the Abortion Act (1967), an important statute that has regulated a highly controversial field of practice for five decades. Biography is taken as a useful shorthand for an approach which requires simultaneous attention to continuity and change in the historical study of a law's life. It takes seriously the insight that written norms are rooted in the past, enshrining a certain set of historically contingent values and practices, yet that- A s linguistic structures that can impact on the world only through acts of interpretation-they are simultaneously constantly evolving. It acknowledges the complex, ongoing co-constitution of law and the contexts within which it operates, recognising that understanding how law works requires historical, empirical study. Finally, it suggests that consideration of a law can offer a unique window through which to explore these broader contexts.
CITATION STYLE
Sheldon, S., Davis, G., O’Neill, J., & Parker, C. (2019, March 1). The Abortion Act (1967): A biography. Legal Studies. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/lst.2018.28
Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.