Category: courts

A democratic defence of the European Court of Human Rights – OUP Blog

Posted September 12th, 2016 in constitutional reform, courts, human rights, news, treaties by sally

‘“Vote leave, take control” was the slogan of almost fiendish simplicity that helped win the Brexit referendum, masking the mendacity and absence of vision that underlay it. The impulses it captures—wresting sovereignty back from remote elites to Westminster, with its proud democratic tradition—echo those that have for years underpinned the opprobrium directed at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in British public debate.’

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OUP Blog, 12th September 2016

Source: www.blog.oup.com

UK courts should be able to issue Islamic divorces, sharia expert says – The Guardian

Posted September 5th, 2016 in courts, divorce, inquiries, islamic law, marriage, news, women by sally

‘British courts should be able to issue Islamic divorces via a specialised unit set up to protect the rights of Muslim women, a leading expert in sharia law will advise a House of Commons inquiry.’

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The Guardian, 4th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Business as usual? – Counsel

Posted September 1st, 2016 in arbitration, brexit, courts, EC law, London, news by sally

‘Sophie Nappert analyses how international arbitration in London will fare post-Brexit.’

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Counsel, September 2016

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Bar Council blames court fee rises for fall in CCJs – Litigation Futures

Posted August 30th, 2016 in barristers, county courts, courts, fees, news, statistics by sally

‘There was a 19% fall in the number of debt judgments against businesses in England and Wales during the first six months of 2016, which the Bar Council says is evidence of the negative impact of rising court fees.’

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Litigation Futures, 25th August 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Canines in court: therapy dogs making the wait for a verdict ‘more human’ – The Guardian

Posted August 30th, 2016 in animals, courts, dogs, family courts, mental health, news by sally

‘Unique in the UK, Chelmsford county court hosts therapy dogs each week, to reduce stress and make court less intimidating.’

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The Guardian, 28th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide 2016: Help for persons representing themselves (“litigants in person”)? – Cloisters

Posted August 25th, 2016 in Administrative Court, courts, judicial review, litigants in person, news by sally

‘In this blog I consider the Administrative Court’s Judicial Review Guide 2016 (“the Guide”). It is undoubtedly a massive help for solicitors, barristers and other legal advisers who are dealing with judicial review claims even on an infrequent basis. How much help can it be for a litigant in person?’

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Cloisters, 1st August 2016

Source: www.cloisters.com

Statistics show those owed money are being “priced out of court” – The Bar Council

Posted August 25th, 2016 in courts, debts, fees, news, statistics by sally

‘Businesses and individuals seeking money owed to them are being priced out of court, warns the Bar Council, as figures from the Registry Trust show a 19 per cent drop in county court judgments against businesses in the first half of 2016.

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The Bar Council, 23rd August 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Briggs presses ahead with Online Court and challenges profession to get to grips with unbundling – Legal Futures

Posted July 28th, 2016 in civil justice, costs, courts, internet, news, reports by sally

‘Lord Justice Briggs published his final report on the structure of the civil courts and retained his strong support for the creation of an online court for claims worth up to £25,000 – which he said should be called the Online Solutions Court – although he has shifted position to say that parties should be able to recover a limited amount of legal costs.’

Full story

Legal futures, 27th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Council response to Lord Justice Briggs’ review – The Bar Council

Posted July 28th, 2016 in barristers, civil justice, courts, internet, press releases, reports by sally

‘The Bar Council has responded to Lord Justice Briggs’ Civil Courts Structure Review. Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, said: “Efforts to modernise the courts and improve efficiencies in our justice system are essential. It is surely time to make a proper investment in our civil justice system for the future, to provide justice for all.” ‘

Full press release

The Bar Council, 27th July 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Civil Courts Structure Review (CCSR): Final Report published – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted July 28th, 2016 in civil justice, courts, press releases, reports by sally

‘The final report of Lord Justice Briggs’ Civil Courts Structure Review was published on 27 July 2016.’

Full report and report

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 27th July 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Breaking: ‘minimal assistance’ from lawyers in online court – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 27th, 2016 in appeals, civil justice, costs, courts, electronic filing, employment tribunals, internet, news, small claims by sally

‘A long-awaited report on the future of civil courts has recommended a new online court for dealing with all monetary claims up to £25,000.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 27th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Fees fi fo fum – New Law Journal

Posted July 27th, 2016 in advocacy, appeals, civil procedure rules, costs, courts, damages, fees, news by sally

‘David Wright discusses fixed advocacy fees.’

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New Law Journal, 26th July 2016

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Bringing the Bar to the Pub: “Pop-up Justice” for the 21st Century? – Littleton Chambers

Posted July 26th, 2016 in courts, litigants in person, news by sally

‘On 30 June 2016, The Times reported on a speech given by Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division of the High Court, to a conference organised by Solicitors for the Elderly. It touched on the possibility of holding court hearings in public places other than court buildings. On the same day, The Daily Mail reported that “[m]akeshift courts could be held in buildings such as pubs or town halls.” Now, many a practitioner (not least myself) has calculated the swiftest route from a judicial tongue-lashing to some alcoholic relief from sanction, but can they really be proposing pub hearings (legal history buffs might like to note that a Court of Piepowders, described by Sir William Blackstone as “the lowest, and at the same time the most expeditious, court of justice known to the law of England”, sat at the Stag and Hounds in Bristol until 1870)? Probably not.’

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Littleton Chambers, 18th July 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Protester, 91, goes to European court over secret police files – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2016 in courts, data protection, demonstrations, elderly, human rights, investigatory powers, media, news by sally

‘A 91-year-old whose political activities were covertly recorded by police has won the right to take his legal case to the European court of human rights.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

iPhone evidence ‘could be more effective than court hearing’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 25th, 2016 in benefits, child support, computer programs, courts, divorce, evidence, family courts, HM Courts Service, internet, news, ombudsmen, probate, road traffic offences, telecommunications, video recordings by sally

‘Resolving neighbour disputes using iPhone evidence and a video hearing might be more effective than the parties travelling several miles to court, a senior government official has said, outlining significant developments to modernise the justice system.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 21st July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Teenager jailed for posting murder trial images on Facebook – The Guardian

Posted July 14th, 2016 in contempt of court, courts, internet, news, photography, sentencing, trials, young persons by sally

‘A teenager who took photographs in court as his friend was being jailed for murder and then glorified the killer on social media has been given a 15-month sentence.’

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The Guardian, 13th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The digital drive – Counsel

Posted July 13th, 2016 in civil justice, computer programs, courts, criminal justice, dispute resolution, documents, internet, news, statistics by sally

‘Catherine Baksi considers whether lawyers, judges, courts and clients are ready for a digital revolution, the drivers for change, and impact on access to justice.’

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Counsel, July 2016

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

What now for human rights in the UK post-Brexit? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted July 5th, 2016 in bills, brexit, constitutional reform, courts, EC law, human rights, news, treaties by sally

‘Theresa May, expected to shortly emerge as the “stop Boris” prime ministerial candidate in this post-referendum world, kept her head down during the Brexit campaign apart from one notable intervention.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 4th July 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

MPs castigate government over court and tribunal fee rises – Litigation Futures

Posted June 21st, 2016 in courts, employment tribunals, fees, news, parliament, reports, select committees, tribunals by sally

‘MPs have hit out at the government’s approach to increasing court fees, with major changes needed to restore an “acceptable level of access to the employment tribunals”, and also urged ministers not to introduce any more civil court fee rises until there is research into the impact of what has been done to date, particularly on London’s competitiveness as a litigation centre.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th June 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.co.uk

Employment tribunal fees ‘will deny workers justice’ – The Independent

Posted June 20th, 2016 in asylum, costs, courts, dispute resolution, divorce, employment, employment tribunals, fees, immigration, inquiries, news, select committees, statistics, tribunals, vexatious litigants by sally

‘Workers unfairly dismissed by their employers are being denied access to justice because of new Government court fees, a cross party committee of MPs has warned. Since the new employment tribunal fees were introduced in 2013 there has been a “precipitate drop” of almost 70 per cent in the number of cases being brought, the Commons Justice committee said. It can now cost as much as £1,200 simply to bring a claim.’

Full story

The Independent, 20th June 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk