Pseudolaw and Sovereign Citizens

Conspiracy theories, ridiculous claims and falsehoods now sadly bedevil the law around the globe. These need to be tackled and understood, and this is just the book to do it. * Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, Western Sydney University, Australia *

Meads v Meads, 2012 ABQB 571, one of the world’s leading cases on understanding of pseudolaw characters and methods, was released by the Alberta Court of Queen’s (now King’s) Bench just over 12 years ago. What has changed? The chapters of Pseudolaw and Sovereign Citizens, edited by Australian and New Zealand legal scholars Harry Hobbs, Stephen Young and Joe McIntyre, published by Hart Publishing, illustrate that although pseudolaw has continued and expanded to manifest in many communities around the world, pseudolaw methods and content remain startlingly similar. That continuity means that the lessons learned about pseudolaw in one jurisdiction are often useful tools to understand and combat this phenomenon elsewhere, so as to try to maintain access to justice for legitimate litigants and save scarce resources of legal systems, worldwide.Our understanding of pseudolaw has developed markedly over the last decade, as this “plague of ideas” that confronts legal systems has expanded. You might call this a kind of race of infection vs immunisation.The interdisciplinary commentary in this valuable text, from academics, legal professionals and judges, provides important context “from the trenches,” and with a more remote and strategic perspective. Knowing the enemy is a first and necessary step to effective countermeasures.

* Hon. John D. Rooke, K.C. Former Associate Chief Justice of the Alberta Court of King’s Bench *This book is incredibly helpful in explaining the origins and basis of a range of pseudolaw arguments so that reasoned responses can be given. It shows how various countries have dealt with this phenomenon, including successful strategies in Canada that have continued its growth. Most worryingly, it exposes the risks of its expansion into new areas, particularly in Indigenous communities. I found it both enlightening and frightening, but most importantly, useful. * Anne Twomey AO, Professor Emerita, Sydney Law School *

Harry Hobbs is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law and Justice, University of New South Wales, Australia.

Stephen Young is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Otago, New Zealand.

Joe McIntyre is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Justice and Society, University of South Australia.