Are barristers’ standards slipping? – The Times

Posted September 6th, 2007 in barristers, complaints, professional conduct, special report by sally

“An increase in complaints and several high-profile cases raise questions about barristers’ conduct” – Frances Gibb, The Times Legal Editor

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The Times, 6th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

JAC makes first two High Court appointments – Legal Week

Posted September 6th, 2007 in judges, judicial appointments commission, news by sally

“The first High Court judges to be appointed under the new Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) selection process were announced today (6 September) by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.”

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Legal Week, 6th September 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted September 6th, 2007 in legislation by sally

The Local Government (Best Value Authorities) (Power to Trade) (England) (Amendment No.2) Order 2007

The National Park Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England) Regulations 2007

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (Commencement No. 1) (England) Order 2007

The Independent Living Fund (2006) Order 2007

The Insolvency (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2007

 Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

The debt claim process: helping people in debt to engage with the problem – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 6th, 2007 in consultations, debts by sally

“This consultation paper seeks views on options for encouraging debtor engagement and consequential possible streamlining of procedures for dealing with non-defended debt claims. It will help to inform any proposed changes on handling debt problems in England and Wales.”

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Ministry of Justice, 5th September 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk 

Regina v Montgomery – Times Law Report

Posted September 6th, 2007 in escape from custody, law reports, prisons by sally

Prisoner failing to return is not an escaper

Regina v Montgomery

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

“Where a prisoner who was on temporary release from prison failed to return to prison at the expiry of his release period, he could not be said to have escaped from custody and could not therefore be guilty of the common-law offence of escape from custody.”

The Times, 6th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk 

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication. 

Regina v Ukpabio – Times Law Reports

Posted September 6th, 2007 in law reports, live link evidence by sally

Court has common-law power to let accused appear by video link

Regina v Ukpabio

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

“The court had no power outside the statutory provisions of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 to direct that an accused could give evidence at his trial by live video link; however, in exceptional circumstances where it was appropriate for the defendant not to be present in court, it did have power to direct that he could participate in his trial by other means such as live video link.”

The Times, 6th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication. 

UK firms poised to reap rewards of class action litigation upswing – Legal Week

Posted September 6th, 2007 in class actions, consumer protection, news by sally

“The UK legal community is united in the belief that US-style class action litigation is set to take off throughout Europe, with product liability cited as a key growth sector. Claire Ruckin reports on the results of the latest Big Question survey.”

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Legal Week, 6th September 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

HR professionals criticise equality law overhaul – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 6th, 2007 in equality, news by sally

“Proposed equality legislation is not clear enough for UK employers to follow and will not result in a more diverse workplace, according to the human resources professional body. The new laws will result in ‘box ticking’, the body said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th September 2007
Source: www.out-law.com

HSBC back in court over £5m gay claim – The Times

Posted September 6th, 2007 in news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

“HSBC is due back in court tomorrow to face the latest round in a £5 million discrimination claim brought by a gay former high-flyer.”

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The Times, 5th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Cohabitation laws too expensive, says Haworth & Nutall – The Lawyer

Posted September 6th, 2007 in cohabitation, news by sally

“Blackburn-based firm Haworth & Nuttall has claimed that changes to cohabitation laws will ‘fall at the first hurdle’ due to extra costs.”

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The Lawyer, 5th September 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com 

Police want gun witness anonymity – BBC News

Posted September 6th, 2007 in anonymity, firearms, news, witnesses by sally

“Witnesses to gun crime should be given a guarantee they will not be identified in court, police chiefs say.”

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BBC News, 6th September 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Watchdog ends ban on part-human part-animal embryo research – The Guardian

Posted September 6th, 2007 in embryology, news by sally

“British stem cell scientists celebrated the end of a lengthy battle to create embryos which are part-human and part-animal yesterday after the research was approved by the government’s fertility watchdog.”

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The Guardian, 6th September 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Depressed judge leapt to his death from flat – The Times

Posted September 6th, 2007 in inquests, judges, news by sally

“A judge killed himself by jumping 50ft from his third-floor apartment because he was suffering from depression and anxiety – induced partly by drugs that were prescribed for his high blood pressure, an inquest was told yesterday.”

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The Times, 6th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk