Pseudolaw and Sovereign Citizens

Can you avoid any law you do not consent to? Can you avoid paying taxes by declaring yourself sovereign? Do courts operate under admiralty or maritime law? No. But welcome to the strange world of pseudolaw.

This is the first-ever edited volume solely dedicated to examining pseudolaw and its most prominent adherents, sovereign citizens. Drawing on the expertise of judges, criminologists, legal theorists and political sociologists, this collection offers insights into the global growth and alarming adaptability of pseudolaw. While it might be tempting to laugh at the ridiculousness of pseudolaw, it is a serious matter. People who make these claims rob themselves of meaningful legal opportunities and impose great costs to themselves, the administration of justice, and the community. Pseudolaw is also linked to violent extremism and indicative of growing social insecurity.

Part I offers ways to analyse and differentiate pseudolaw from other forms of conspiracy ideation and fringe legal interpretation. Part II examines the rise of sovereign citizens and the global spread of pseudolaw. Part III explores contemporary issues arising from pseudolaw, including the rise of far-right extremism, lay-persons in judicial proceedings, fake claims of indigeneity, and fraudulent ‘get out of jail’ schemes. It concludes by considering how we can respond to this phenomenon.

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.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.