Gove is right on our two-tier justice system – but cuts caused this crisis – The Guardian

‘We must modernise our courts but that won’t address the fact that those who need it most are failed by the system. Only investment can redress the balance.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

What does a one nation justice policy look like? – Speech by Michael Gove

Posted June 23rd, 2015 in civil justice, criminal justice, pro bono work, rule of law, speeches by tracey

‘Speech given at the Legatum Institute.’

Full speech

Ministry of Justice, 23rd June 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

IMI plc and another v Delta Ltd (formerly Delta plc) and another – WLR Daily

Posted June 22nd, 2015 in civil justice, contribution, damages, law reports, limitations, time limits by tracey

IMI plc and another v Delta Ltd (formerly Delta plc) and another: [2015] EWHC 1676 (Ch); [2015] WLR (D) 262

‘On the true construction of the final proviso in section 1(4) of the Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978 Part 20 the defendants in contribution proceedings were precluded from relying on a limitation defence pleaded against the claimants in the main proceedings.’

WLR Daily, 17th June 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Guidance Notes for Chancery Masters following Changes to Practice Direction 2B – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted June 19th, 2015 in civil justice, injunctions, judiciary, news by tracey

‘Guidance Notes for Chancery Masters following Changes to Practice Direction 2B.’

Full text

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 16th June 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Dyson calls on judges to lead resistant lawyers to embrace post-Jackson “culture of reform” – Litigation Futures

Posted May 22nd, 2015 in case management, civil justice, news by sally

‘Judges need to lead the way in jolting lawyers out of their “comfort zones” so as to fully embrace the Jackson reforms, the Master of the Rolls has said, citing the lack of progress on disclosure and ‘hot-tubbing’ as examples where the new rules have not been embraced.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 22nd May 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Stalking victim warns of legal loophole – BBC News

Posted April 30th, 2015 in civil justice, criminal justice, defamation, harassment, news, stalking, victims by sally

‘Stalkers must be stopped from using a loophole in the legal system to harass their targets, a victim has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 29th April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dyson: ‘we must simplify Civil Procedure Rules’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The master of the rolls has called for further simplification of the Civil Procedure Rules to reduce delays in the justice system.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 23rd April 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

News focus: law and justice pledges – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The general election manifestos are in – here’s our quick-fire summary of their headline pledges on law and justice.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 20th April 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Civil litigation: indemnity costs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 17th, 2015 in civil justice, costs, indemnities, news by sally

‘The recent case of Siegel v Pummell [2015] EWHC 195 (QB) demonstrates judicial willingness to make a costs order on the indemnity basis where circumstances exist which justify such an order being made.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 16th March 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council response to Justice Committee report on Legal Aid – The Bar Council

Posted March 12th, 2015 in barristers, civil justice, legal aid, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘Responding to today’s report from the Justice Committee, Alistair MacDonald QC, Chairman of the Bar said:
“We have reached a watershed moment in the administration of justice.’

Full story

The Bar Council, 12th March 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.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.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 10th March 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

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

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

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th March 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal experts call for English ‘online court’ to handle low-value civil court cases – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 18th, 2015 in civil justice, electronic filing, internet, litigants in person, news by sally

‘An online mechanism should be set up to handle low-value civil court cases, with judges removed entirely from the process for the simplest cases, according to a new report.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th February 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Inefficient court system should be streamlined, Leveson says – BBC News

Posted January 23rd, 2015 in case management, civil justice, criminal justice, delay, juries, news by sally

‘A senior judge has set out plans to “streamline” the “inefficient, time consuming and… very expensive” justice system in England and Wales.’

Full story

BBC News, 23rd January 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Proposals for further reforms to court fees – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 20th, 2015 in civil justice, consultations, courts, fees, news, repossession by sally

‘In Part 1 of the Government response to the consultation ‘Court fees: proposals for reform’, we set out our decision to consider alternatives to the proposed fee increase for divorce.’

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 16th January 2015

Source: https://consult.justice.gov.uk

Enhanced court fees: the government response to part 2 of the consultation on reform of court fees – Ministry of Justice

‘The government response to part 2 of the consultation on reform of court fees and further proposals for consultation.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 16th January 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Government set to hike general civil application fees – Litigation Futures

Posted January 19th, 2015 in budgets, civil justice, consultations, costs, courts, fees, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The government has dropped plans for “enhanced” court fees specifically for commercial cases, but is now targeting increased fees for the hundreds of thousands of general civil applications made each year.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 19th January 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Court fees: Proposals for reform – Judicial responses – Judiciary of England and Wales

‘Responses of the Lord Chief Justice, senior judiciary and the Civil Justice Council to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Consultation on Court fees – enhanced charging.’

Full text

Judiciary of England and Wales, 16th January 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Access To Justice Effective Remedy And Rule Of Law: The Adequacy Of Judicial Review – No. 5 Chambers

‘The ideal judge is a supremely intelligent woman. She is especially empathetic. She has limitless expertise in every field and infinite patience. We can trust her to do right. She is perfect justice. Lets place her on a pedestal.’

Full story (PDF)

No. 5 Chambers, 16th December 2014

Source: www.no5.com

Legal aid immigration case guidance ‘unlawful’ – BBC News

Posted December 15th, 2014 in appeals, budgets, civil justice, immigration, legal aid, news by tracey

‘Guidance on granting legal aid for exceptional immigration cases is “unlawful”, judges have ruled.’

Full story

BBC News, 15th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk