What is the basis for the law in the Cayman Islands?

The law in the Cayman Islands is primarily based on English Common Law, which is a body of legal rules that developed in England through court decisions rather than through legislative statutes. This legal system emphasizes judicial precedents and the importance of previous court rulings in determining the outcomes of new cases. Given the historical relationship between the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom, the influence of English Common Law has been significant.

This system provides a framework for the legal matters in the islands, guiding judges and legal practitioners in interpreting laws. The reliance on common law means that many principles are derived from past decisions, allowing for a degree of consistency and predictability in how laws are applied.

Other choices, such as British Statute Law or Local Statutes, play a role in the legal landscape of the Cayman Islands but do not serve as the foundational basis of the law. Statute laws made by the British Parliament or local legislation can be integrated into the legal system, but they operate within the framework established by Common Law. Similarly, English Civil Law is not the dominant influence in the Cayman Islands' legal system as it pertains more to laws pertaining to civil matters in specific countries, primarily those that follow a code-based legal system, contrasting the common law tradition.