History
The Clean Hands Doctrine in Equity Courts
Quick fact
The clean hands doctrine is famously encapsulated in the maxim 'He who comes into equity must come with clean hands.' If a plaintiff has acted unethically in the same transaction, equity courts may refuse to provide relief—even if the plaintiff has a valid legal claim.
Why this is interesting
Imagine suing someone for cheating you, but you've also cheated them the same way. Can you still expect a judge to help you? The clean hands doctrine in equity courts says maybe not—and it has been that way for centuries.