16th Century Books Show Little Basic Changes In Law

Short article highlighting old and rare books in the possession of the College of Law in 1938.

Miss June Llewelyn, secretary to Dean W. H. Leary of the University of Utah law school, glances over two English comrnon law books written between 1554 and 1565, now available at the school. · 16th Century Books Show Little Basic Changes In Law University Of Utah Volumes Once Belonged To State Supreme Court; Some Date To 1565 Attesting to unchanging basis of law are several English law books, nearly four centuries old, now jn possession of the University of Utah Law School. Some of the old books, once were possessions of the Utah Su­preme Court, are dated 1565. One book, sti:ll in its original parch­ment cover, is dated even earlier than that. The outstanding item one gleans from these books, accord­ing to William H. Leary, dean of the law school, is that so few changes exist in our basic lav:: today and the common law of the Sixteenth Century. Some of the volumes embody· early deci­sions and v.rere the basis for sub­sequent decisions. Others are text books. The volumes are valuable in showing how imperceptible is the change in law. They are used mostly by teac~1ers.