What are the differences between civil law and common law?

Civil law and common law are two distinct systems of law that may be found in the same country, such as in Maryland. Civil law relies on a comprehensive written set of laws that have been passed by the legislature, while common law is based on laws that have been developed through judicial decisions. In civil law, legal cases are decided in terms of the specific laws that are written in the code. This means that when a case is brought to court, it is up to the judge to interpret the law and determine how it applies to that particular case. This also means that the same crime can be punished differently, depending on how each judge interprets the law. However, in common law, legal decisions are based on an understanding of similar legal cases that have already been decided in the past. This means that when a case is brought to court, the judge reviews previously decided cases to determine how the law should be interpreted. This prevents instances where the same crime can be punished differently. As a result, common law is often considered the more consistent, reliable system of the two. Overall, the difference between civil law and common law is that civil law is based on a set of written laws that are interpreted by a judge, while common law is based on previous decisions that set a precedent. Both systems are in effect in Maryland, but they each have their own advantages and disadvantages.

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