mar 26, 1686 - Godden Vs. Hales

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The Godden vs Hales case was a legal dispute in 1686 between two English lawyers, Sir John Godden and Sir Edward Hales, over Hales' appointment as a colonel in the army despite being a recent convert to Catholicism, in violation of the Test Act of 1673. The court ruled in Godden's favor, but James II had both Godden and the presiding judge arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London, and ordered the verdict to be overturned and Hales pardoned. This highlighted James II's attempts to promote Catholicism and undermined the independence of the judiciary, contributing to growing opposition to his reign and his disregard for the law.

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