Editor's Note

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

In 1859, Key West found itself transfixed by a sensational criminal trial. Styled United States v. Carcer, Eloy, and Davis, and presided over by William Marvin, the island's legendary federal judge, the case involved a mutiny-murder aboard the slave ship Enterprise. Although famous in its day, the tale has been all but forgotten due to the Great Key West Fire of 1886, which destroyed nearly every record of the affair.
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The Schooner Enterprise: a Forgotten Key West Murder Case

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In 1861, the Confederate States of America authorized the establishment of a “Court of Admiralty and Maritime Jurisdiction” at Key West. Although a judge was appointed, the court never sat because the island remained in Union hands throughout the Civil War. After first describing the court's creation and staffing, this article highlights the various procedural and practical problems the court would have faced if it had been able to operate.
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The Confederate Admiralty Court at Key West

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In 1845, lawyer-turned-physician Daniel W. Whitehurst, originally from Virginia, moved to Key West. By the time of his death in 1872, Whitehurst had served as the city's mayor, state senator, and captain of its rebel guard. Nevertheless, Whitehurst now is an unknown figure. Buried with him is his cause of death, which may have been suicide.
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A Key West “jack-of-all-trades”: The Strange Life, and Peculiar Death, of Dr. Daniel W. Whitehurst

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This essay provides a sketch of William Marvin's first decade in Key West (1835–45). In this period, Marvin, originally from New York, served as the territory's U.S. district attorney (1835–39) and its second territorial judge (1839–45). It was during this time that Marvin became acquainted with the city's wrecking industry and began to develop his interest in salvage law.
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Mr. Marvin Goes to Key West

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This essay explores the salvage decisions rendered by William Marvin during his time as a judge in Key West (1839–45; 1847–63). It also discusses his celebrated treatise on salvage law (1858), which cemented his reputation as one of America's leading authorities on maritime law. Lastly, it recounts how Marvin superintended the city's notorious wrecking industry.
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Judge William Marvin and the Law of Salvage

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This essay describes the prize law of the Confederate States of America. Due to the Union's blockade of the South's coastline, Confederate judges heard very few prize cases. But when they did, they closely hewed to the prize law of the United States.
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The Confederate Law of Prize

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This essay describes the work of Spain's consuls in Key West between 1829 and 1870. Although Spain sold Florida to the United States in 1821, it retained a keen interest in Key West (primarily due to the city's proximity to Cuba). As their country's “eyes and ears,” Spain's consuls were expected to keep their superiors in Madrid briefed on the latest developments, a task they pursued with vigor.
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“Keeping Tabs”: Spanish Consular Activities in Key West, 1829–70

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This essay describes the efforts of the Confederate States of America to convince Great Britain to support its secession from the United States. Although the South's leaders were confident that Britain's need for cotton would lead it to become an ally, numerous factors—including the British public's aversion to slavery—contributed to the country remaining neutral.
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Great Britain and the Confederacy

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This bibliography identifies and describes 75 works that focus on Key West during its first 50 years (1821–71) as a U.S. possession. General, legal, and popular culture materials are included.
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Island Musings: a Selective Bibliography of Early Key West

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This review discusses two recent books that focus on Key West in the Civil War. Employing vastly different approaches, both works will have their share of admirers and detractors. Given the complexity of Key West's role in the Civil War, however, much fertile ground remains for future researchers.
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“Mad Passions of the Hour”: Key West and the Civil War

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 13 (2024): Issue 1 (February 2024)

Volume 12 (2023): Issue 2 (September 2023)

Volume 12 (2023): Issue 1 (July 2023)

Volume 11 (2022): Issue 2 (November 2022)

Volume 11 (2022): Issue 1 (June 2022)

Volume 10 (2021): Issue 3 (December 2021)

Volume 10 (2021): Issue 2 (August 2021)

Volume 10 (2021): Issue 1 (April 2021)

Volume 9 (2020): Issue 3 (December 2020)

Volume 9 (2020): Issue 2 (August 2020)

Volume 9 (2020): Issue 1 (May 2020)

Volume 8 (2019): Issue 3 (December 2019)

Volume 8 (2019): Issue 2 (December 2019)

Volume 8 (2019): Issue 1 (May 2019)

Volume 7 (2018): Issue 2 (December 2018)

Volume 7 (2018): Issue 1 (May 2018)

Volume 6 (2017): Issue 2 (December 2017)

Volume 6 (2017): Issue 1 (May 2017)

Volume 5 (2016): Issue 2 (December 2016)

Volume 5 (2016): Issue 1 (April 2016)

British Journal of American Legal Studies

 The British Journal of American Legal Studies is the premier American legal studies journal in Europe. This peer reviewed, cross-disciplinary journal is a bridge between American and European legal scholarship focused on American legal issues. The journal has a theoretical focus, but will occasionally publish articles with a doctrinal or empirical focus that cast light on important issue within the journal's remit. The journal highlights scholarship examining shared intellectual traditions between America, Britain and Europe. Authors whose work draws connections between American, British and European constitutional, political, historical, intellectual ideas and materials informing legal studies are particularly welcome to submit articles to the journal.　   Submissions/information for authors:  Submissions may be made through Scholastica and are typically but not exclusively between 10 - 15, 000 words excluding footnotes. The journal uses Bluebook referencing format.　  The journal does not have article processing charges (APCs) nor article submission charges.  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process.  Target Group   academics and practitioners in the field of constitutional law having relevance to the United States, including human rights, legal and political theory, socio-legal studies and legal history 