Daughter in CoP case questions “second-rate” Skype justice – Legal Futures

‘An academic who was present at the first Court of Protection hearing to be conducted over Skype last month has raised concerns over its impact on relatives and witnesses.’

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Legal Futures, 1st April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Dorchester-upon-Thames man jailed for coughing in officer’s face – BBC News

Posted April 1st, 2020 in assault, coronavirus, criminal damage, health, imprisonment, news, police, sentencing by sally

‘A man who coughed in the face of a police officer arresting him for assaulting a woman has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 31st March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coronavirus and Public Civil Hearings – Blackstone Chambers

Posted March 31st, 2020 in chambers articles, civil justice, coronavirus, news by sally

‘This piece, by Thomas de la Mare QC, considers how open civil justice, and in particular public hearings, will work in the coronavirus era.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 30th March 2020

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Relaxation of UK abortion rules welcomed by experts – The Guardian

Posted March 31st, 2020 in abortion, coronavirus, government departments, news, women by sally

‘Leading UK healthcare providers have welcomed the government’s decision to allow women to take abortion pills at home without travelling to a clinic.’

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The Guardian, 30th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Furlough and lay-off against the background of Covid-19 / Coronavirus – 4 New Square

‘A new term has entered the employment lexicon: furloughing. What does it mean and how does it relate to the longer established concept of laying-off? Are employers better placed to take advantage of the government’s scheme for paying furloughed employees or to consider laying off their staff or making them redundant?’

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4 New Square, 25th March 2020

Source: www.4newsquare.com

Criminal Powers in response to Covid-19 – stay indoors instructions – 5SAH

‘On 23 March 2020, the Prime Minister instructed everyone to remain in their homes in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. The overwhelming majority of individuals and businesses have taken steps to comply with that instruction. However, concerns remained about the large number of people continuing to use London Underground, groups of people congregating in public places and a small number of people steadfastly refusing to comply. From the off, law enforcement officials were asking to be furnished with powers to enforce compliance.’

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5SAH, 30th March 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

The impact of Coronavirus, part 1: trial by jury during a pandemic – 6KBW College Hill

‘Covid 19: the current situation is so fast moving that anything written will almost inevitably be out of date by the time it is typed. However, following the effective “lock down” from 8.30pm on 23 March 2020 it may be that there are fewer further changes until restrictions can be eased, and it is useful to reflect on the effect so far.’

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6KBW College Hill, 30th March 2020

Source: blog.6kbw.com

Divisional Court to consider application for suspension of ‘no recourse to public funds’ policy – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Divisional Court will this week (3 April) consider whether to suspend the Home Office’s ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) policy.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK police warned against ‘overreach’ in use of virus lockdown powers – The Guardian

‘Police chiefs are drawing up new guidance warning forces not to overreach their lockdown enforcement powers after withering criticism of controversial tactics to stop the spread of coronavirus, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 30th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Network of priority courts launched for essential face-to-face hearings – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 31st, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, health, health & safety, live link evidence, news, tribunals by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice, HM Courts and Tribunals Service and the judiciary have created a network of 157 priority courts and tribunal buildings that will remain open for essential face-to-face hearings during the coronavirus pandemic to make sure the justice system continues to operate effectively.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Coronavirus: Court fine for Tesco queue rule breaker – BBC News

Posted March 31st, 2020 in coronavirus, emergency powers, fines, health, health & safety, news by sally

‘A man has pleaded guilty to breaching coronavirus social distancing rules by repeatedly approaching people in a supermarket queue.’

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BBC News, 30th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Draft in haste… Coronavirus restrictions and homelessness – Nearly Legal

‘Here are emergency regulations, The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020, made today. These, amongst many other things, deal with what commercial premises may open, or must be closed, and – to the point here – restrictions on individual movement.’

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Nearly Legal, 26th March 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Force majeure in 2020 – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 30th, 2020 in brexit, climate change, contracts, coronavirus, news by sally

‘While thousands of coronavirus sufferers around the world will be getting doctors’ notes to excuse them from work, Chinese businesses have been getting ‘force majeure certificates’ from their government to excuse them from contractual performance.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 25th March 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ombudsman suspends complaints enquiries of councils and care providers – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has suspended all casework activity that demands information from, or action by, local authorities and care providers, in light of the current coronavirus outbreak.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Coronavirus – new forms 3 and 6A for s8 and s21 – Nearly Legal

‘Now that the Coronavirus Act is in force (as of today 26 March 2020), the three month notice period applies to assure and assured shorthold tenancies (as well as secure, introductory, etc).’

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Nearly Legal, 26th March 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Theodore Konstadinides and Lee Marsons: Covid-19 and its impact on the constitutional relationship between Government and Parliament. – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘The Coronavirus Act 2020, the UK’s most substantial legislative response to the Covid-19 pandemic, received Royal Assent yesterday after a fast-tracked procedure through both Houses. Indisputably, the pandemic falls within the range of situations under which it is constitutionally acceptable for Bills to be fast-tracked. While there is no corollary between an expedited piece of legislation and a bad piece of legislation, fast-tracking the Coronavirus Bill carries important implications for the constitutional relationship between Government and Parliament. Not least, parliamentarians had limited time to scrutinise legislation containing measures that have been described by the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law as ‘the most sweeping powers ever taken by the UK Government outside of wartime’. But, in this context, the implications for the balance between Government and Parliament extend beyond the immediate passage of the Act. Therefore, while Tierney and King stressed the dilemma between safeguarding public health and the protection of individual liberties vis-a-vis fast-tracked legislation, the purpose of this post is to outline a number of concerns provoked by this pandemic on the Government-Parliament relationship more broadly, while also making some comments on the Act itself.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 26th March 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Chris Packham begins legal case to halt HS2 amid coronavirus crisis – The Guardian

‘Chris Packham is seeking an urgent injunction to immediately halt HS2’s destruction of ancient woodlands as campaigners criticise construction teams for allegedly ignoring the government’s physical distancing rules for coronavirus and endangering local people.’

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The Guardian, 27th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coroners’ Investigations, Inquests and COVID-19 – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 30th, 2020 in coronavirus, coroners, delay, health, health & safety, human rights, inquests, news by sally

‘The following post was written on the morning of 26 of March 2020. Today, 27th of March, the Chief Coroner brought out Guidance 35 on hearings during the pandemic (no. 35), with the proviso that all these issues will be kept under review.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 26th March 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lawyers and HMCTS launch remote hearings resource – Legal Futures

Posted March 30th, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, live link evidence, news, remote hearings by sally

‘A project has gone live enabling the global justice community to share experiences of developing remote alternatives to physical court hearings in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, spearheaded by Professor Richard Susskind.’

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Legal Futures, 30th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Police fine people over social distancing – BBC News

Posted March 30th, 2020 in coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, fines, health, health & safety, news, police by sally

‘Police forces in England and Wales have fined people for ignoring guidance to prevent the spread of coronavirus.’

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BBC News, 27th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk