Category: courts

Coronavirus: Jury trials, message from the Lord Chief Justice – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 18th, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, health, health & safety, juries, news, trials by sally

‘The impact of the public health emergency on the operation of the courts has been under constant review. In all jurisdictions steps are being taken to enable as many hearings as possible to be conducted with some or all of the participants attending by telephone, video-link or online. Many court hearings will be able to continue as normal with appropriate precautions being taken. We must make every effort to maintain a functioning court system in support of the administration of justice and rule of law.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 17th March 2020

Source: www.judiciary.uk

HMCTS issues guidance for courts and tribunals users during coronavirus outbreak – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 16th, 2020 in codes of practice, coronavirus, courts, health, health & safety, HM Courts Service, news, tribunals by sally

‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service has today (13 March) issued guidance for all court and tribunal users during the coronavirus outbreak.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Civil Justice Council proposes rule changes to ensure consideration of vulnerability of people in civil proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 26th, 2020 in civil justice, codes of practice, compensation, courts, Ministry of Justice, news, sexual offences, victims, witnesses by sally

‘The Civil Justice Council has proposed rule changes that would further ensure that all civil judges, parties and advocates consider vulnerability of people involved in civil proceedings.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Senior judges mull guideline hourly rate review – Litigation Futures

Posted February 21st, 2020 in civil justice, costs, courts, fees, judges, news by sally

‘A group of senior judges at the helm of the civil courts are considering a review of the guideline hourly rates (GHR) “as a matter of urgency”, it has emerged.’

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Litigation Futures, 21st February 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Call for new law to protect victims in the justice system – The Guardian

Posted January 27th, 2020 in courts, criminal justice, news, prosecutions, statistics, victims by sally

‘Ministers have been urged to introduce a “victims’ law” to stop people losing faith in the criminal justice system. The move comes after new data revealed that the number of crime victims who decline to press charges has more than doubled in five years.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Courts “more willing” to rule on fundamental dishonesty – Litigation Futures

Posted January 22nd, 2020 in appeals, courts, deceit, disclosure, fraud, fundamental dishonesty, news, road traffic by sally

‘There are signs that courts are more willing to make findings of fundamental dishonesty when they reject claimants’ cases, a leading defendant firm has suggested.’

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Litigation Futures, 21st January 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Jack Simson Caird: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and the Rule of Law – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted January 20th, 2020 in bills, brexit, constitutional law, courts, EC law, news, parliament, rule of law by sally

‘The general election on 12 December 2019 has fundamentally changed the political dynamic driving the Brexit process. The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill (WAB), which will become law before 31 January 2020, has been substantially revised (from the version which was presented in October 2019) to reflect this Government’s approach to Brexit. The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law has published a report that looks in depth at some of the main Rule of Law issues in the WAB. This version of the WAB indicates that this Government will take a different approach from the previous one in terms of dealing with some of the key constitutional issues arising from Brexit. This post examines some of the Rule of Law implications of the main constitutional issues in the WAB.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 16th January 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Bar Council responds to televised court plans – The Bar Council

Posted January 17th, 2020 in barristers, courts, press releases, sentencing, video recordings by tracey

‘Reality TV-style broadcasting of criminals being sentenced comes with risks that need to be guarded against, warns the Bar Council today as the Government looks to make the justice system more open with plans to film Crown Court sentencing.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 16th January 2020

Source: www.barcouncil.oeg.uk

Serious crime victims wait longer for justice after court days cut – The Guardian

Posted January 13th, 2020 in budgets, courts, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics, victims by tracey

‘Victims of serious crime now wait almost a year-and-a-half for the suspects to go on trial while judges sit “idle” after the government cut their sitting days – despite Guardian analysis finding almost half of all crown courtrooms in England and Wales are empty each day.’

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The Guardian, 13th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘McKenzie friends’ must be banned because courts are being overrun by untrained advocates, senior politicians say – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 9th, 2019 in advocacy, courts, Law Society, legal aid, legal profession, legal representation, McKenzie friends, news, solicitors by sally

‘A new breed of untrained legal advocates who are ripping off the public with “flawed” and “dangerous” legal advice should be banned, lawyers’ leaders and politicians have urged ministers.’

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Daily Telegraph, 8th December 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Disclosure pilot for the Business & Property Courts – Counsel

Posted December 5th, 2019 in budgets, codes of practice, costs, courts, disclosure, news, pilot schemes, practice directions by sally

‘A cut out & keep guide to Practice Direction 51U and overview of the changes to disclosure procedures in the Business and Property Courts.’

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Counsel, December 2019

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Flexible operating hours must stop, says incoming Bar Council chair – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 4th, 2019 in barristers, courts, diversity, flexible working, news by tracey

‘Flexible operating hours in courts are “an anathema to those with caring responsibilities” and inhibit diversity at the bar, the incoming chair of the Bar Council has said.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd December 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

More barristers to skip court security – but solicitors still have to queue – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 2nd, 2019 in barristers, courts, identification, identity cards, news, solicitors by tracey

‘A scheme which enables barristers to bypass court security has been rolled out in 30 more courts – but solicitors still have to undergo searches.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 29th November 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Lord Chief Justice gives the Pilgrim Fathers Lecture 2019 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted November 15th, 2019 in courts, judges, legal history, speeches by tracey

‘The Lord Chief Justice gives the Pilgrim Fathers Lecture 2019.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 15th November 2019

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Court reforms may not be completed in time, PAC warns – Legal Futures

Posted November 6th, 2019 in accounts, courts, delay, HM Courts Service, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘The government’s court modernisation programme may not be completed by the deadline of 2023, the House of Commons public accounts committee (PAC) has warned in its latest report on the project.’

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- Legal Futures, 6th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Difficulties in recruiting to District Bench “to have adverse consequences” for civil, family jurisdictions: Lord Chief Justice – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 6th, 2019 in civil justice, courts, families, news, reports by sally

‘The Lord Chief Justice has warned of “a very worrying shortfall” in the recruitment of salaried members to the District Bench this year, saying that it will have adverse consequences for the family and civil jurisdictions.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th November 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Chaotic court system threatens justice for vulnerable, say MPs – The Guardian

Posted November 1st, 2019 in budgets, computer programs, courts, electronic filing, equality, HM Courts Service, internet, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘The most vulnerable in society are at risk of being excluded from access to justice due to poor digital skills, lack of legal advice, court closures and “dilapidated” courthouses, MPs have warned in a damning critique of the government’s modernisation programmes.’

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The Guardian, 31st October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Hot courting’ is causing havoc, says criminal bar – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 23rd, 2019 in barristers, courts, criminal justice, Crown Prosecution Service, delay, fees, news, time limits, trials by tracey

‘So-called “hot courting” is delaying trials and fuelling job insecurity for barristers, the criminal bar has warned. Caroline Goodwin QC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said that the practice of different judges using the same courtroom back-to-back has caused backlogs of cases – just for the sake of “saving electric”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd October 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Child sex abuse survivors ‘traumatised again’ by facing attackers in court buildings before hearings – The Independent

Posted October 23rd, 2019 in child abuse, courts, cross-examination, inquiries, Ministry of Justice, news, sexual offences, statistics, victims, witnesses by tracey

‘Survivors of childhood sexual abuse are forced to come face-to-face with their tormentors in court buildings while waiting for cases to be heard, a report has revealed.
Such shocks are among a host of failings by authorities and advisers that are regularly leaving people “at risk of being traumatised all over again” and feeling “discarded” by the justice system.’

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The Independent, 23rd October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Whistleblowing judges: protected by human rights? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 21st, 2019 in appeals, budgets, courts, disclosure, employment, employment tribunals, freedom of expression, human rights, interpretation, judges, judiciary, news, Supreme Court, whistleblowers by sally

‘The UK Supreme Court has unanimously granted an appeal by a district judge against the Court of Appeal’s decision that she did not qualify as a “worker” under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (the “1996 Act”), and therefore could not benefit from the whistleblowing protections it conferred.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 18th October 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com