Charles Abbott, 1st Baron Tenterden

Charles Abbott, 1st Baron Tenterden (7 October 1762 – 4 November 1832), was a British barrister and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench between 1818 and 1832.

Quotes

• It is fit that justice should be administered with great caution.
  • Rex v. Bowditch (1818), 2 Chit. Rep. 281.

• Although our powers are great, they are not unlimited—they are bounded by some lines of demarcation.
  • The King v. Justices of Devon (1819), 1 Chit. Rep. 37.

• I am extremely unwilling that we should take upon ourselves to exercise a jurisdiction which the law does not vest in us.
  • Rex v. Middleton (1819), 1 Chit. Rep. 656.

• A presumption of any fact is, properly, an inferring of that fact from other facts that are known; it is an act of reasoning; and much of human knowledge on all subjects is derived from this source.
  • King v. Burdett (1820), 1 St. Tr. (N. S.) 140.

• In drawing an inference or conclusion from facts proved, regard must always be had to the nature of the particular case, and the facility that appears to be afforded, either of explanation or contradiction. No person is to be required to explain or contradict, until enough has been proved to warrant a reasonable and just conclusion against him, in the absence of explanation or contradiction.
  • King v. Burdett (1820), 1 St. Tr. (N. S.) 140.

• Prima facie, every estate, whether given by will or otherwise, is supposed to be beneficial to the party to whom it is so given.
  • Townson v. Tickell (1820), 3 B. & A. 36.

• I know of no privileged class of society, and I do not know an esquire has any privileges a yeoman has not.
  • Case of Edmonds and others (1821), 1 St. Tr. (N. S.) 889.

• We cannot suffer a person by his affidavit to arraign the whole justice of the country and its administration.
  • Case of Edmonds and others (1821), 1 St. Tr. (N. S.) 924.

• Human society was so constituted, for human nature was so constituted, that the honour and dignity of a father were connected with that of a son; and there was no son who must not be disturbed and disquieted by imputations on his father.
  • King v. Hunt (1824), 2 St. Tr. (N. S.) 100.