Sheriffs Act 1887

In the United Kingdom, acts of Parliament remain in force until expressly repealed. Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, published in the late 18th-century, raised questions about the system and structure of the common law and the poor drafting and disorder of the existing statute book. From 1810 to 1825, The Statutes of the Realm was published, providing the first authoritative collection of acts. The first statute law revision act was not passed until 1856 with the Repeal of Obsolete Statutes Act 1856 (19 & 20 Vict. c. 64). This approach — focusing on removing obsolete laws from the statute book followed by consolidation — was proposed by Peter Locke King MP, who had been highly critical of previous commissions' approaches, expenditures, and lack of results. == Passage ==

The Sheriffs (Consolidation) Bill had its first reading in the House of Lords on 22 March 1887, introduced by the Lord Chancellor, Hardinge Giffard, 1st Baron Halsbury. The bill had its second reading in the House of Lords on 31 March 1887 and was committed to a committee of the whole house, The bill had its second reading in the House of Commons on 12 July 1887, introduced by the Solicitor General, Sir Edward Clarke . During debate, the bill was criticised for leaving out the consolidation of statutes relating to sheriffs in Ireland. receiving criticism from MPs. The committee which met on 5 September 1887 and 10 September 1887, The committee reported on 10 September 1887, with amendments. The bill had its third reading in the House of Commons on 10 September 1887 and passed, with amendments. The amended bill was considered and agreed to by the House of Lords on 13 September 1887. The bill was granted royal assent on 16 September 1887. == Legacy ==

Several acts repealed by this act were repealed again by the Statute Law Revision Act 1887 (50 & 51 Vict. c. 59), which was passed simultaneously. The territorial terms of the act led to several acts being for the avoidance of doubt for Ireland repealed by later Statute Law Revision Acts, including the Statute Law Revision (Ireland) Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 98). The act was intended, in particular, to facilitate the preparation of a revised edition of the statutes. Part of section 39 and the third schedule to the act were repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1908 (8 Edw. 7. c. 49). == Repealed enactments ==

Section 39 of the act repealed 73 enactments, listed in the third schedule to the act. • Any rights acquired or obligations incurred under previously repealed enactments • Existing borough and city charter rights • Common law powers and rights • Prior legal proceedings and penalties • The status of current office holders like sheriffs and bailiffs • The validity of existing writs and orders • Fees or poundage taken Section 40 of the act provided that notwithstanding any repeal, courts leet, court baron or other like courts existing at the time shall continue to be held on the same days and in their usual places as before, but without larger powers or fees, and any indictment or presentment shall be dealt with as previously. Section 40 of the act also provided that officers like coroners and escheators shall continue to be governed by previous rules unless specifically substituted by new provisions in this act. == See also ==