<P> Much of the Muslim world uses Sharia (also called Islamic law). </P> <P> The common law constitutes the basis of the legal systems of: England and Wales and Northern Ireland in the UK, Ireland, the United States (both the federal system and the individual states (with the partial exception of Louisiana)), Canada (both federal and the individual provinces (except Quebec)), Australia (both federal and individual states), Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Pakistan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Granadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and many other generally English - speaking countries or Commonwealth countries (except the UK's Scotland, which is bijuridicial, and Malta). Essentially, every country that was colonised at some time by England, Great Britain, or the United Kingdom uses common law except those that were formerly colonised by other nations, such as Quebec (which follows the law of France in part), South Africa and Sri Lanka (which follow Roman Dutch law), where the prior civil law system was retained to respect the civil rights of the local colonists . Guyana and Saint Lucia have mixed Common Law and Civil Law systems . </P> <P> Scotland is often said to use the civil law system, but it has a unique system that combines elements of an uncodified civil law dating back to the Corpus Juris Civilis with an element of its own common law long predating the Treaty of Union with England in 1707 (see Legal institutions of Scotland in the High Middle Ages), founded on the customary laws of the tribes residing there . Historically, Scottish common law differed in that the use of precedent was subject to the courts' seeking to discover the principle that justifies a law rather than searching for an example as a precedent, and principles of natural justice and fairness have always played a role in Scots Law . From the 19th century, the Scottish approach to precedent developed into a stare decisis akin to that already established in England thereby reflecting a narrower, more modern approach to the application of case law in subsequent instances . This is not to say that the substantive rules of the common laws of both countries are the same although in many matters (particularly those of UK - wide interest) they are very similar . </P> <P> Scotland shares the Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords), with England, Wales and Northern Ireland for civil cases; and the Court's decisions are binding throughout the UK for civil cases and throughout England and Wales and Northern Ireland for criminal cases . This has had the effect of homogenising the law in certain areas . For instance, the modern UK law of negligence is based on Donoghue v Stevenson, a case originating in Paisley, Scotland . Scotland maintains a separate criminal law system from the rest of the UK, with the High Court of Justiciary being the final court for criminal appeals . </P>

Law that is made by judges rather than a legislature is known as statutory law