Barristers bring flexible courts into legal aid action – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Criminal barristers refusing to take on new legal aid work have asked the government to abandon plans to test new operating hours for courts, as heads of chambers prepare to discuss whether or not to accept the government’s surprise offer of investment last week.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 30th May 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ministry of Justice unveils legislation that will allow judges to delegate “routine” work to court staff – Litigation Futures

Posted May 25th, 2018 in bills, civil procedure rules, courts, judiciary, lists, news by sally

‘Legislation to allow judges to delegate tasks to court staff was announced by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) yesterday as it emerged that the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) has already begun looking at the issue.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures,24th May 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

New legislation will modernise the courts – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 24th, 2018 in civil justice, courts, criminal justice, judiciary, lists, press releases by tracey

‘The Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill will increase efficiency by allowing greater flexibility to deploy the right judge to the right case.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 23rd May 2018

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

HMCTS behind schedule on “ambitious” court reform programme, says watchdog – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 11th, 2018 in budgets, civil justice, courts, criminal justice, delay, electronic filing, news by sally

‘HM Courts Service is behind where it expected to be at this stage of its ambitious reform programme, the National Audit Office has warned.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th May 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

HMCTS response to National Audit Office report on court reform programme – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 9th, 2018 in budgets, courts, electronic filing, press releases by tracey

‘HMCTS response from CEO Susan Acland-Hood to National Audit Office report on court reform programme.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 9th May 2018

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

Courts revolution may be ‘undeliverable’, spending watchdog warns – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 9th, 2018 in budgets, courts, electronic filing, news by tracey

‘Spending watchdogs have warned courts chiefs of a real danger that they will fail to complete their digital courts revolution in time and on budget. In a comprehensive progress report published today, the National Audit Office says HM Courts & Tribunals Services faces a “daunting challenge” in meeting target for technological and cultural change.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 9th May 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MoJ “considering wider impact” of employment tribunal fees ruling as it ramps up refund efforts – Litigation Futures

Posted May 3rd, 2018 in courts, employment tribunals, fees, judgments, news, repayment by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is taking legal advice on the wider implications of last year’s Supreme Court ruling that the introduction of employment tribunal fees was unlawful, it has emerged.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 3rd May 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Speech by Lord Justice Gross: Courts and Arbitration – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted May 3rd, 2018 in arbitration, civil justice, courts, judges, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by Lord Justice Gross: Courts and Arbitration .’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 2nd May 2018

Unitary patent and Unified Patent Court reforms: state of play May 2018 – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 2nd, 2018 in courts, EC law, news, patents, treaties by tracey

‘The UK’s recent ratification of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) Agreement marked an important step towards a new system of unitary patent protection becoming operational. The process has been lengthy and complex and is not over yet.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 1st May 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Guidance on the Capacity to Litigate in Proceedings Involving Children – April 2018 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted April 26th, 2018 in children, courts, family courts, mental health, trials by tracey

‘This guidance has been produced to assist judges in the Family Court to resolve mental capacity issues concerning parties to family law proceedings. Designed to be practical and accessible, it will point the judge to key rules and statutory provisions. Lawyers instructed in family proceedings may also find this guidance valuable.’

Full guidance

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 26th April 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Speech by Lord Chief Justice the Lord Burnett of Maldon at the Association of District Judges Annual Conference – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

Posted April 16th, 2018 in case management, courts, electronic filing, judiciary, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by Lord Chief Justice the Lord Burnett of Maldon at the Association of District Judges Annual Conference.’

Full speech

Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 16th April 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Immaturity means young adults need more support in court, report says – The Guardian

‘Young adults should be given special treatment in court because they are immature and need help understanding proceedings, according to a report by an influential legal reform group. The call for a fresh approach for 18- to 24-year-olds comes from the Centre for Justice Innovation as the sharp rise in knife crime highlights the criminal justice system’s problems in dealing with that age group.’

Full Story

the Guardian, 10th April 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Chancellor of the High Court: Integrity and independence in the judiciary and the financial services industry – a comparative study – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Chancellor of the High Court: Integrity and independence in the judiciary and the financial services industry – a comparative study.’

Full speech

Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 21st March 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Judge uses mobile in court to solve timetable problem in ‘unorthodox’ move – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 26th, 2018 in case management, courts, judges, news, telecommunications by tracey

‘A judge broke with tradition by using a mobile phone in court to solve an administrative problem. Lawyers have praised Judge Richard Todd, a divorce court judge, who had a conversation with an office clerk in a bid to avoid a delay while overseeing a High Court case.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 25th March 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

First virtual court case held using claimant’s laptop camera – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2018 in appeals, courts, news, pilot schemes, taxation by tracey

‘The first virtual court case has been held with a claimant appearing via a home laptop camera, while an extremely patient judge sat in a London tribunal and lawyers presented evidence from Belfast.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th March 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Speech by Sir Ernest Ryder, Senior President of Tribunals: Assisting Access to Justice – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by Sir Ernest Ryder, Senior President of Tribunals: Assisting Access to Justice.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 20th March 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Master of the Rolls: More than four in ten of applications to Court of Appeal come from litigants in person – Legal Futures

Posted March 20th, 2018 in appeals, civil justice, costs, courts, internet, litigants in person, news, speeches by sally

‘The proportion of applications to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal by litigants in person (LiPs) has gone up by 50% in the last 10 years, the Master of the Rolls has said.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 20th March 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister blows whistle on ‘broken legal system brought to its knees by cuts’ – The Guardian

Posted March 19th, 2018 in barristers, complaints, courts, criminal justice, news, whistleblowers by sally

‘Damning book by ‘secret barrister’ tells of courts plagued by daily errors leaving them unfit for purpose.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 18th March 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

On a Housing Court and (not) making things simpler – Nearly Legal

Posted March 14th, 2018 in courts, housing, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘A specialist Housing Court is in the air. Sajid Javid, Minister for Housing. Communities and Local Government, has repeatedly mentioned ‘discussions’ with the judiciary on a housing court, ever since the last Tory conference in October. There has been no mention of any progress – and surely progress would have to involve the MoJ, not just the judiciary.’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 12th March 2018

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Allocation: Assessment of guideline – Sentencing Council

Posted March 8th, 2018 in courts, Crown Court, magistrates, news, sentencing, trials by tracey

‘The Sentencing Council has published its assessment of the impact of its Allocation Guideline, under its statutory duty to monitor the operation and effect of its sentencing guidelines and to draw conclusions from this information.’

Full text

Full Story

Sentencing Council, 6th March 2018

Source: www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk