Full Description
In the Dutch Republic courts made decisions by voting and judgments were not motivated. Although some judges kept a record of the preceding deliberations, the only extensive collections we have until now for the eighteenth century are those of Van Bijnkershoek and Pauw. Very fortunately we dispose also of the Observationes of Johan van Bleiswijk (in 1723-1748 colleague of Van Bijnkershoek). Van Bleiswijk provides the various opinions in cases but also expounds on his own views. In this way, he provides his own perspective and legal views. Hence Van Bleiswijk's Observationes are a most welcome addition to our knowledge of judicial decision-making in the Dutch Republic.
