MPs’ attacks on judges a huge threat to the rule of law, says attorney general – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2025 in news by sally

‘Political attacks on judges are “dangerous” and “a huge threat to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary”, the attorney general has said in a direct rebuke to the shadow justice secretary.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd April 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Discrimination that ‘arises from’ or is ‘related to’ belief – No. 5 Chambers

Posted April 3rd, 2025 in news by sally

‘There is no overt reference in the Equality Act 2010 to the protection that exists (per Article 9.1 ECHR) for those seeking to manifest (in some way) their religion/belief. In light of the recent decision in Higgs v. Farmor’s School [2025] EWCA Civ 109 the question arises: is it time for a new form of religious/belief discrimination, equivalent to the protection that is provided to those with a disability pursuant to s.15 EqA 2010?’

Full Story

No. 5 Chambers, 31st March 2025

Source: www.no5.com

Did you miss? Adverse possession – Schedule 6 LRA 2002 – ‘reasonable belief’-10-year period – Gatehouse Chambers

Posted April 3rd, 2025 in news by sally

‘The respondent (B) had been the registered proprietor of an area of land since September 2002. The appellants (Rs) had been the registered proprietors of adjoining land since July 2004. A dispute arose between them over a strip of land that formed part of B’s registered title but had been used by Rs as part of their garden and, later, for the erection of a new property.’

Full Story

Gatehouse Chambers, 25th March 2025

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

Father who shook eight-week-old daughter jailed for her murder after she succumbed to injuries six years later – The Independent

Posted April 3rd, 2025 in news by sally

‘Father who shook eight-week-old daughter jailed for her murder after she succumbed to injuries six years later
A “volatile” father whose eight-week-old daughter was left profoundly disabled after he fractured her skull has been jailed for life with 17 years for her murder after she died from her injuries six years later.’

Full Story

The Independent, 2nd April 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Pensions Trust litigation: What’s it all about? – Pensions Barrister

Posted April 3rd, 2025 in news by sally

‘Paul Newman KC explains the issues arising in the recent The Pensions Trust trial, which will be of general interest to the profession. The trial finished last week and judgment is expected in due course.’

Full Story

Pensions Barrister, 3rd April 2025

Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com

Woman who violently shook baby daughter guilty of manslaughter – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2025 in news by sally

‘A woman has been found guilty of the manslaughter of her four-month-old daughter, who died after being violently shaken.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd April 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Old Etonian jailed for 24 years after trying to throw estranged partner down a well following row on car journey – The Independent

Posted April 3rd, 2025 in news by sally

‘An Old Etonian who tried to murder his former partner by throwing her down a disused well at his family’s country estate has been jailed for 24 years.’

Full Story

The Independent, 2nd April 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Parental consent to the confinement of younger children – again – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

Posted April 3rd, 2025 in news by sally

‘The vexed question of whether and under what circumstances parents can consent to (or otherwise authorise) the confinement of children under 16 came before HHJ Burrows (sitting as a High Court judge) in QX (Parental Consent for Deprivation of liberty: Children under 16) [2025] EWHC 745 (Fam).’

Full Story

Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 3rd April 2025

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

An unfortunate admission – St John’s Chambers

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘In this article Sophie Howard and Julian Horne, of our Personal Injury team, set out the legal principles and practical considerations in making or responding to an application to withdraw an admission, and offer some words of caution. They also discuss applications to withdraw admissions of liability in claims that initially appear to be within the Portal limit, but where the value of the claim later increases significantly.’

Full Story

St John's Chambers, 7th March 2025

Source: www.stjohnschambers.co.uk

Enforcing Injunction Orders: The Role of Civil Procedure Rule 70.2A in Tackling Disobedience – St Philips Barristers

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘Amanprit Kaur provides a practical example of how CPR 70.2A can be a powerful tool to enforce injunction orders against disobedient parties in the context of boundary disputes.’

Full Story

St Philips Barristers, 19th March 2025

Source: st-philips.com

Poultry and Pollution: The National Farmers’ Union v Herefordshire Council & Ors [2025] EWHC 536 (Admin) – Francis Taylor Building

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘On 10 March 2025, the High Court dismissed a challenge to the Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (“the MWLP”) brought by the National Farmers’ Union (“the NFU”). Whilst the immediate impact of the decision will primarily affect livestock production in Herefordshire, the Court’s conclusions on the meaning of “waste” is likely to have wider implications for the agricultural sector more generally.’

Full Story

Francis Taylor Building, 18th March 2025

Source: www.ftbchambers.co.uk

Falling behind the PACE: lie detectors, policing and lack of foreseeability – an FOI-based study – Legal Studies

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘Despite its contested scientific validity, polygraph interviewing is now an established yet opaque practice within criminal justice in England and Wales, with statute law covering polygraph use in the context of probation for released offenders. In this paper, we highlight non-statutory uses of the polygraph by police forces in England and Wales by presenting analysis of responses to freedom of information (FOI) requests. The boundaries around police polygraph use are undefined and potentially elastic. The policies disclosed state that polygraph interviewing is conducted with regard to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and the Human Rights Act 1998; yet it is denied that a polygraph examination is a criminal interview conducted under PACE. Furthermore, there is a significant risk that the common law may not satisfy the quality of law requirement insofar as it is insufficiently clear who will be subject to polygraph testing, why and in what circumstances. Therefore, we argue that the legal basis for the police’s use of the polygraph is inadequate and imprecise. Without openness and scrutiny regarding the extent of this use, it is difficult to see how the key human rights principle of foreseeability can protect citizens from the risk of arbitrariness.’

Full Story

Legal Studies, 6th February 2025

Source: www.cambridge.org

Car firms fined for withholding recycling information – BBC News

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘Ten carmakers and two industry groups have been fined a combined total of nearly £78m for withholding information about vehicle recycling.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st April 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Local Inquiries: What do they mean and what might they do? – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘In January 2025, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a plan to fund work on five inquiries to explore allegations into failures by local services and police forces to adequately address child sexual exploitation and other sexual abuse. These were described as “victim-centred locally-led inquiries”, to be based on the work done by the Telford Inquiry chaired by Tom Crowther KC, and implemented at Oldham Council and four other pilot areas. in mid-March 2025, the Government advised that an update would be coming soon and likely pre-Easter.’

Full Story

Doughty Street Chambers, 25th March 2025

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Q&A: Who’s afraid of systemic legal challenges? – 3PB

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘2025 is likely to see a groundswell of systemic challenges on a range of social and economic issues affecting the education sector. If the last four years of case law is anything to go by, that may be an understatement.’

Full Story

3PB, 12th March 2025

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Office for Students fines University of Sussex £585,000 for free speech and governance breaches – Oscar Davies – Garden Court Chambers

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘The Office for Students (OfS) has imposed potentially its largest ever fine of £585,000 on the University of Sussex, citing failures in its governance and breaches of its duties relating to freedom of speech. This eye-catching penalty follows the university’s handling of events surrounding Professor Kathleen Stock in 2021, and the OfS’s investigation concluded that Sussex failed to take adequate steps to secure free expression.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 27th March 2025

Source: gardencourtchambers.co.uk

The Case of the Missing Wills – Case Note: Packer v Packer [2025] EWHC 461 (Ch) – Guildhall Chambers

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘Following a three-day trial, Hugh Sims KC sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge (“the Judge”) handed down judgment in Packer v Packer [2025] EWHC 461 (Ch) (“the Judgment”). Ollie Murrell, instructed by Bailhache Law, acted for the successful Claimant.’

Full Story

Guildhall Chambers, 20th March 2025

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

Rukhadze and others v Recovery Partners GP Ltd and another [2025] UKSC 10 – Hailsham Chambers

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘On 19th March 2025, a panel of seven Supreme Court justices gave their decision in an appeal concerning whether an important change to the equitable principles about the duties and liabilities of fiduciaries should be made. A panel of seven justices was assembled because the Supreme Court was asked to depart from two longstanding decisions of the House of Lords: Regal (Hastings) Ltd v Gulliver [1967] 2 AC 134 and Boardman v Phipps [1967] 2 AC 46.’

Full Story

Hailsham Chambers, 21st March 2025

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

Lawyers attack ‘dangerous’ decision to halt Sentencing Council guidelines – The Guardian

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘Shabana Mahmood’s intervention to halt new guidelines on sentencing is “dangerous” and a “deliberate step backwards”, according to senior legal figures and prison campaigners.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st April 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Victims will be able to attend offenders’ parole hearings – BBC News

Posted April 2nd, 2025 in news by sally

‘A scheme that saw victims of crime in Greater Manchester get to go to criminals’ parole hearings is to be rolled out across England and Wales.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st April 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk