Jurors packed into crowded courts: how the government defied coronavirus advice – The Guardian

Posted March 24th, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, health, health & safety, juries, news, trials by sally

‘Trials may now be suspended in England, but forcing people to mix in cramped rooms during a coronavirus crisis was risky at best.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 23rd March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government identifies justice system’s keyworkers – Legal Futures

‘Legal professionals involved in court and tribunal hearings, as well as those advising people deprived of their liberty or on executing wills are ‘keyworkers’, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Jury trials on hold in England and Wales due to coronavirus fears – The Guardian

Posted March 23rd, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, delay, health, health & safety, juries, live link evidence, news, trials by sally

‘All jury trials in England and Wales are being temporarily suspended because of the risk of spreading coronavirus infections, the lord chief justice has announced.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Final hearings to go online “very shortly”, says Lord Chief – Litigation Futures

‘Final hearings and hearings with contested evidence in civil and family cases will “inevitably” be conducted using technology very shortly, the Lord Chief Justice has warned.’

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Litigation Futures, 19th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Will my hearing go ahead? Civil Procedure, Human Rights and the Coronavirus – Blackstone Chambers

‘In light of the COVID-19 outbreak and the protective measures which the UK government has introduced, litigators across the country are asking one burning question: will hearings go ahead, and if so how?’

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Blackstone Chambers, 18th March 2020

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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