Customary Law and the Courts

Customary Law and the Courts explores the evolving role of unwritten legal norms within the modern judiciary. Coedited by Laurent Mayali and Pierre Mousseron, this global comparative study challenges the notion of custom as a relic, instead positioning it as a vital "normative dynamic" that fills legislative gaps. Featuring contributors from East Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East, the volume examines diverse case studies-from Hawaiian adoption law to French trade practices-and highlights the role of judges in legitimizing social traditions.