| Heydon's Case | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| Court | Exchequer of Pleas |
| Decided | Easter Term, 1584 |
| Citations | EWHC Exch J36 3 Co Rep 7a 76 ER 637 Pasch 26 Eliz plea began 20 Eliz Rot 140 |
| Case history | |
| Prior actions | Pasch 26 Eliz, plea began 20 Eliz Rot 140 |
| Court membership | |
| Judge sitting | Roger Manwood CB |
| Keywords | |
| Mischief rule | |
Heydon's Case (1584) 76 ER 637 is considered a landmark case: it was the first case to use what would come to be called the mischief rule of statutory interpretation. The mischief rule is more flexible than the golden or literal rule, in that the mischief rule requires judges to look over four tasks to ensure that gaps within the law are covered.