High Court: contempt of court could form basis of ‘unlawful means’ damages action – OUT-LAW.com

‘Failing to comply with a freezing order in contempt of court could be considered “unlawful means” as part of an action for damages for conspiracy to injure by unlawful means, the High Court has ruled.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 23rd February 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

An Inconvenient Truth: The Danger of Using Undertakings in International Cases – Family Law Week

‘Sarah Lucy Cooper, barrister, of Thomas More Chambers considers the perils of relying on undertakings in cases with a foreign element.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 18th February 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Jury Service and the Price of Curiosity – Emma Fenelon – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 16th, 2016 in contempt of court, human rights, juries, Law Commission, news, reports by sally

‘Like the 179,000 or so people selected at random from the electoral register each year in England and Wales, in July 2011 Ms. Theodora Dallas was summoned to attend jury service. Along with other jurors summoned that day, she was shown a video about their service, and told by the court’s jury officer that internet research about anyone involved in the trial was not permitted. For good measure, the jury waiting room contained notices stating “You may also be in contempt of court if you use the internet to research details about any cases you hear along with any cases listed for trial at the Court…”. The notices made it clear that contempt of court was punishable by a fine or by imprisonment.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 15th February 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

GQ publisher fined for contempt of court over Rebekah Brooks article – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2016 in contempt of court, fines, interception, media, news by sally

‘The publisher of GQ magazine has been fined £10,000 after being found in contempt of court over an article that seriously risked prejudicing the phone-hacking trial of Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Finance and Divorce Update January 2016 – Family Law Week

‘Edward Heaton, Principal Associate and Jane Booth, Associate, both of Mills & Reeve LLP analyse the news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during December 2015.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 8th January 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

That’s Entertainment? The Anonymity of Arrestees and the Law – Doughty Street

‘Last week, The Mirror reported that John Leslie was being questioned by police in connection with an alleged sexual assault. The report contained photographs of the police with evidence bags outside Leslie’s house. The Mirror reminded its readers of allegations made against the former TV presenter in 2002 and 2008. This the most recent example of media reports concerning allegations of sexual offences involving public figures.’

Full story

Doughty Street, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.doughtystreet.co.uk

Tear down house or go to prison, high court tells farmer in planning dispute – The Guardian

Posted November 10th, 2015 in contempt of court, news, planning, sentencing, suspended sentences by sally

‘A farmer has been given a three-month suspended prison sentence for failing to tear down a mock Tudor castle that he built.

Full story

The Guardian, 9th November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Late Saudi King Fahd’s ‘secret wife’ wins payout – BBC News

‘A woman who says she was the “secret wife” of the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia has won a multimillion-pound claim at the High Court.’

Full story

BBC News, 3rd November 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge calls for fast-track civil contempt procedure after application is stymied by criminal trial – Litigation Futures

‘A claimant found to have brought a bogus personal injury claim – but then cleared of fraud in the Crown Court – can only face civil contempt proceedings if there is new evidence, the High Court has ruled.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 4th November 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Becky Watts murder: potential jurors told not to research case – The Guardian

Posted October 7th, 2015 in contempt of court, internet, juries, murder, news by sally

‘Potential jurors in the Becky Watts murder trial have been warned they could face imprisonment if they research the case or discuss it with other people.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jurors and jail: How to avoid going from one to the other, and trying to keep your Ipad in between… – Park Square Barristers

Posted October 7th, 2015 in contempt of court, internet, juries, news by sally

‘You’re called up for jury duty. You’re excited, nervous, curious. You wonder what case you might get, if there will be a celebrity involved. You probably don’t consider whether you’ll end up in prison at the end of your service.’

Full story

Park Square Barristers, 4th October 2015

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Model jailed for false whiplash claim – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 13th, 2015 in contempt of court, fraud, news, personal injuries, sentencing by sally

‘A model and semi-professional footballer has this week been jailed for two months for making up a personal injury claim.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 12th August 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Rebecca Minnock: Grandmother jailed over missing mum lies – BBC News

Posted June 15th, 2015 in child abduction, contempt of court, custody, news, sentencing by sally

‘A grandmother has been sentenced to 10 days in prison for lying in court about the disappearance of her daughter and three-year-old grandson.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother and son missing after custody ruling in Bristol – The Guardian

‘Judge takes exceptional step of lifting reporting restrictions to help find Rebecca and Ethan Minnock and reunite three-year-old with his father.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid legislation ‘disgracefully complex’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 20th, 2015 in contempt of court, legal aid, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has called for clarity over ‘disgracefully complex’ legal aid legislation after an elderly man was committed to prison in the absence of publicly funded legal representation to which he was entitled.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 19th May 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Millionaire businessman wins gagging order over alleged sex parties – Daily Telegraph

‘A multi-millionaire businessman has won a permanent ban on a former friend and business colleague from exposing details of alleged sex and drugs parties.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th May 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Theresa May drops rules on ordering universities to ban extremist speakers – The Guardian

Posted March 23rd, 2015 in contempt of court, freedom of expression, news, terrorism, universities by sally

‘The home secretary, Theresa May, has been forced to drop new statutory rules under which ministers could order universities and colleges to ban external extremist speakers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th March 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mental Capacity Law Newsletter – Thirty Nine Essex Street

Mental Capacity Law Newsletter (PDF)

Thirty Nine Essex Street, February 2015

Source: www.39essex.com

Old Bailey jury ordered not to watch BBC documentary on royals – The Guardian

‘The jury in a trial at the Old Bailey have been ordered not to watch a BBC documentary on the royal family’s relations with the media amid concerns it could prejudice a fair trial of the Sun’s royal editor.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th February 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

R (James) v HM Prison Birmingham and others – WLR Daily

R (James) v HM Prison Birmingham and others [2015] EWCA Civ 58; [2015] WLR (D) 59

‘There was no obligation on a judge to deduct from a term of imprisonment the time spent on remand by a person arrested under section 43 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 for breach of a final gang injunction order under sections 34 to 36 of the 2009 Act, and subsequently imprisoned for contempt of court pursuant to section 14 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and section 120 of the County Courts Act 1984.’

WLR Daily, 9th February 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk