What is the role of procedural law?

Procedural law plays a critical role in the legal system by defining the processes and methods through which legal rights and obligations are enforced. This encompasses the rules that govern how a court operates, the steps necessary to bring a case to trial, and the procedures that must be followed throughout the course of litigation. This includes rules related to filing lawsuits, how trials are conducted, and the way evidence is presented and considered in court.

Understanding the role of procedural law is essential because it ensures fairness and due process, guiding the way legal disputes are resolved and protecting the rights of individuals involved in legal proceedings. It essentially serves as the framework that enables the judicial system to function effectively and ensures that legal processes are carried out consistently and fairly.

Substantive laws, on the other hand, are those that define rights and duties, while judicial precedents refer to previous court decisions that influence the outcomes of future cases. Establishing legal obligations is also a function of substantive law, rather than procedural law. Therefore, the main emphasis of procedural law is its focus on the methods and processes of enforcing those rights rather than forming the rights themselves.