Day: 10 March 2015

Gender equality and diversity in the judiciary – two years later and little has changed – Halsburys Law Exchange

Posted March 10th, 2015 in diversity, equality, judiciary, legal profession, news by tracey

‘In 2009, when asked by the then Lord Chancellor to look at judicial diversity, Baroness Neuberger said: “Judges drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences will bring varying perspectives to bear on critical legal issues. A judiciary which is more visibly reflective of society will enhance public confidence.” Although it would appear that even 6 years later, not a lot has changed.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 9th March 2015

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Number of judicial review applications falls from 15,600 to 4,000 – Litigation Futures

Posted March 10th, 2015 in civil justice, immigration, judicial review, news, statistics, tribunals by tracey

‘The number of judicial review applications lodged at the High Court fell from 15,600 to just 4,062 last year – caused mainly, but not entirely by the transfer of immigration and asylum cases to the Upper Tribunal.’

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Litigation Futures, 10th March 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Bar Council in deal with credit specialist to finance fees – Legal Futures

Posted March 10th, 2015 in barristers, consumer credit, fees, news by tracey

‘The Bar Council has joined forces with a legal credit finance specialist to enable direct access barristers to offer payment plans to their clients.’

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Legal Futures, 10th March 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Regina (Ingenious Media Holdings Ltd) v Revenue and Customs Commissioners – WLR Daily

Posted March 10th, 2015 in appeals, confidentiality, disclosure, HM Revenue & Customs, law reports, media, public interest, tax avoidance by tracey

Regina (Ingenious Media Holdings Ltd) v Revenue and Customs Commissioners: [2015] EWCA Civ 173; [2015] WLR (D) 104

‘In the particular circumstances of the case limited disclosures made by a Revenue and Customs official in an “off the record” briefing with journalists concerning tax avoidance schemes had been made “for the purposes” of a function of the Revenue and Customs, within section 18(2)(a)(i). Therefore there had been no breach of article 18(1) of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, which required the commissioners to maintain confidentiality of information about a taxpayer’s affairs.’

WLR Daily, 4th March 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Regina (Black) v Secretary of State for Justice – WLR Daily

Posted March 10th, 2015 in health, law reports, ministers' powers and duties, prisons, regulations, smoking by tracey

Regina (Black) v Secretary of State for Justice: [2015] EWHC 528 (Admin); [2015] WLR (D) 105

‘The provisions of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Health Act 2006 were, by necessary implication, binding on the Crown and so applied to all public places and workplaces within its scope for which the Crown was responsible, including state run prisons.’

WLR Daily, 5th March 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Default judgments soar as defences plummet – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 10th, 2015 in civil justice, default judgments, judicial review, legal representation, news, statistics by tracey

‘The number of civil court judgments leapt by 25% last year as more claims went undefended, official statistics have revealed.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th March 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Hundreds of convicted sex offenders are missing, new figures show – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2015 in freedom of information, homelessness, news, police, sexual offences, statistics by tracey

‘A total of 396 registered sex offenders – who are supposed to be monitored by police and inform authorities if they change address – are missing across the UK, with some out of contact with police for more than a decade, according to freedom of information responses to the Press Association.’

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The Guardian, 10th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ofsted finds authorities wanting on child social care – BBC News

Posted March 10th, 2015 in care homes, children, delay, local government, news, reports, social services by tracey

‘Child social care is “inadequate” or “requires improvement” in three-quarters of the local authorities in England inspected by Ofsted last year.’

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BBC News, 10th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

African-Caribbean people more likely to be strip-searched by UK police – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2015 in children, news, police, race discrimination, reports, stop and search by tracey

‘An apparently disproportionate number of people of African-Caribbean descent are being held in police cells and strip-searched, according to an official report, which also warns that children and vulnerable adults are being placed in custody because their families, health and social services cannot cope.’

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The Guardian, 10th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

A19 police retirement: 1,086 officers seek compensation – BBC News

Posted March 10th, 2015 in age discrimination, appeals, compensation, employment tribunals, news, police, retirement by tracey

‘More than 1,000 former senior police officers are seeking compensation after being forced to retire under the controversial regulation A19.’

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BBC News, 10th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

M4 relief road for Newport challenged in court – BBC News

Posted March 10th, 2015 in environmental protection, news, planning, roads, Wales by tracey

‘Friends of the Earth Cymru wants a judge to examine how ministers decided to press ahead with the 14-mile new stretch of motorway around Newport.’

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BBC News, 10th March 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk