presumption of regularity
The presumption of regularityFor this name, see Cooper, Simon & Murphy, Peter & Beaumont, John. Cases & Materials on Evidence. Fourth Edition. Oxford University Press. 1994. p. 86 is a presumption that forms part of the law of evidence of England and Wales.
It is expressed by the maxim of lawArchbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice, 1999, para 10-5 at p. 1130 omnia praesumuntur rite et solemniter esse acta donec probetur in contrarium,For this version, see Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice, 1999, para 10-5 at p. 1130 ({{lit|Everything is presumed right and solemn about this act until proven to the contrary}}); which may be shortened to omnia praesumuntur rite et solemniter esse actaFor this version, see Simon Cooper, Peter Murphy, & John Beaumont, Cases & Materials on Evidence, 4th edn (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994), 86. ({{lit|everything is presumed right and solemn about this act}}) or omnia praesumuntur rite esse acta ({{lit|Everything is presumed right about this act}}).For this version, see Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice, 1999, para 10-5 at p. 1130
Official actions
Where it has been proved that an "official act" has been done, it will be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the said act "complied with any necessary formalities" and that the person who did it was "duly appointed".Cooper, Simon & Murphy, Peter & Beaumont, John. Cases & Materials on Evidence. Fourth Edition. Oxford University Press. 1994. p. 86Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice, 1999, para 10-5 at p. 1130
This is a presumption of law.Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice, 1999, p. 1130, see heading "B" to paras. 10-4 and 10-5
The following cases are relevant to this presumption:
- R v Gordon (1789) 1 Leach 515, (1789) 1 East PC 315
- R v Jones (1806) 31 St Tr 251, (1806) 2 Camp 131
- R v Verelst (1813) 3 Camp 432
- R v Catesby (1824) 2 B & C 814, (1824) 4 Dow & Ry KB 434, (1824) 2 Dow & Ry MC 278
- R v Rees (1834) 6 C & P 606
- R v Murphy (1837) 8 C & P 297
- R v Townsend (1841) C & Mar 178
- R v Newton (1843) 1 C & K 469
- R v Manwaring (1856) 26 LJMC 10, (1856) Dears & B 132, (1856) 7 Cox 192
- R v Cresswell (1876) 1 QBD 446, (1876) 33 LT 760, (1876) 40 JP 536, (1876) 13 Cox 126
- R v Stewart (1876) 13 Cox 296
- R v Roberts (1878) 14 Cox 101, (1878) 42 JP 630, (1878) 38 LT 690, CCR
- Gibbins v Skinner [1951] 2 K.B. 379, [1951] 1 All E.R. 1049, [1951] 1 T.L.R. 1159, (1951) 115 J.P. 360, 49 L.G.R. 713
- Campbell v Wallsend Shipway and Engineering Co Ltd [1977] Crim LR 351, DC
- Dillon v R [1982] AC 484, [1982] 2 WLR 538, [1982] 1 All ER 1017, 74 Cr App R 274, [1982] Crim LR 438, PC
- Gage v Jones [1983] RTR 508, DC
- Kynaston v Director of Public Prosecutions, 87 Cr App R 200, DC
Business transactions
Where it has been proved that "necessary business transactions" have been carried out, it will be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the said transactions were carried out in the order (if any) that they are required to be carried out.Cooper, Simon & Murphy, Peter & Beaumont, John. Cases & Materials on Evidence. Fourth Edition. Oxford University Press. 1994. pp. 86 and 91 See Eaglehill Ltd v J Needham (Builders) Ltd [1973] AC 992, HL.
Mechanical contraptions
Where it has been proved that a "mechanical device" is normally in "good working order", it will be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that it was in good working order on any relevant occasion.Cooper, Simon & Murphy, Peter & Beaumont, John. Cases & Materials on Evidence. Fourth Edition. Oxford University Press. 1994. pp. 86 and 90 See Tingle Jacobs & Co v Kennedy [1964] 1 WLR 638, CA
References
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