Two-thirds of litigators say increased court fees already putting off clients – Litigation Futures

Posted June 16th, 2016 in civil justice, courts, fees, news, statistics by sally

‘Two-thirds of litigation lawyers say increased court fees have already deterred clients from commencing proceedings, a survey has found.’

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Litigation Futures, 15th June 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Court rule changes ‘may drive innocent defendants into making guilty pleas’ – The Independent

‘Changes to court rules to encourage more defendants to plead guilty earlier may lead to more miscarriages of justice as well as increasing the prison population, MPs warn today.’

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The Independent, 14th June 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Economic complexity: CAT vs High Court – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

‘One of the advantages of the Competition Appeal Tribunal is said to be the fact that its three-member panel typically includes an economist. But is that really such a big advantage over the High Court?’

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Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 9th June 2016

Source: www.competitionbulletin.com

Human Rights and Property Litigation: some general concepts – Falcon Chambers

‘In this talk we introduce you to some of the concepts that you need to be familiar with when dealing with human rights under the European Convention of Human Rights (“ECHR”) as incorporated into our domestic law by the Human Rights Act 1998 (“HRA”).’

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Falcon Chambers, May 2016

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

Online Court will include “limited” legal costs to aid unbundled advice, says Briggs – Legal Futures

Posted May 25th, 2016 in budgets, civil justice, costs, courts, internet, legal aid, news by sally

‘The new Online Court will not ban lawyers and there will be “a very limited element of fixed costs” so litigants can get initial legal advice – but not the full “over-expensive” service, Lord Justice Briggs said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 24th May 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Civil Justice Council decides against new housing court – Litigation Futures

‘The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has decided not to back a new housing court to deal with all property disputes, despite support for the move among lawyers in the sector.’

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Litigation Futures, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Pop-up courts needed to help create more flexible justice system – report – The Guardian

Posted May 19th, 2016 in courts, criminal justice, internet, news, reports by sally

“Pop-up” courts with easily transportable judicial stage sets, remote video screens and online access are needed to develop a more flexible justice system, according to a leading legal thinktank.’

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The Guardian, 18th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MoJ seeks to allay court closure concerns – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 6th, 2016 in budgets, courts, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice has given some insight into the reasons behind its decision to close a court that campaigners have bitterly fought to save.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 5th May 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Technology and the Law – Speech by Lord Neuberger

Posted April 26th, 2016 in courts, evidence, judges, news, privacy, speeches, trials, video recordings, witnesses by sally

Technology and the Law

Speech by Lord Neuberger, President of The Supreme Court

British Irish Commercial Bar Association Law Forum, 21st April 2016

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

What has the European Court of Human Rights done for us? – The Independent

‘Campaigners and politicians have criticised Home Secretary Theresa May’s assertion that Britain should leave the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).’

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The Independent, 25th April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judges to be filmed in English and Welsh crown courts – The Guardian

Posted April 26th, 2016 in courts, Crown Court, judiciary, news, pilot schemes, sentencing, video recordings, Wales by sally

‘Television cameras are to be allowed into crown courts in England and Wales for the first time under Ministry of Justice (MoJ) regulations that will be debated by parliament this week.’

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The Guardian, 25th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lower-than-expected court fee income contributes to Ministry of Justice funding black hole – Legal Futures

Posted April 20th, 2016 in budgets, courts, fees, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘Lower-than-expected court fees from high-value cases and increased demand in the criminal justice system are behind the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) request for £427m extra funding over and above its designated department spending limit for 2015-16, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 20th April 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“Boring” hearings or judges who interrupt? Neuberger knows what he likes – Legal Futures

‘The written advocacy of continental European lawyers makes for “boring” court proceedings, according to the President of the Supreme Court.’

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Legal Futures, 19th April 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Equality Act and Regulators – Which Forum? – Littleton Chambers

Posted April 14th, 2016 in appeals, courts, doctors, employment tribunals, equality, news, tribunals by sally

‘Dr Michalak’s name may be familiar to you. She was the doctor who brought a claim against her NHS employer (‘the Trust’) for sex and race discrimination, amongst other matters. Not only did the litigation reveal eye-watering events, it resulted in an eye-watering award of compensation (close to £4.5m) from the Leeds Employment Tribunal (‘ET’). The ET found that there had been a sustained campaign of unlawful conduct by various individuals against Dr Michalak culminating in a sham dismissal and causing post-traumatic stress disorder in Dr Michalak (Michalak v Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Others [2011] ET 1810815/2008).’

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Littleton Chambers, 24th March 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

European court to consider legality of UK surveillance laws – The Guardian

Posted April 12th, 2016 in bills, courts, EC law, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news by sally

‘The legality of Britain’s surveillance laws will come under the intense scrutiny of 15 European judges on Tuesday in a politically sensitive test case that could limit powers to gather online data.’

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The Guardian, 11th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Susskind: online court is just the beginning – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The proposed online court is a “pragmatic first step” on the road to a fully integrated online and conventional court service, an influential body has predicted. Professor Richard Susskind (pictured), who leads a panel of experts on digital dispute resolution, said proposals by Lord Justice Briggs for an online court for small claims were to be welcomed.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th April 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Upholding fundamental rights or ensuring accurate verdicts? The ECtHR and the use of unchallengeable witness evidence – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 5th, 2016 in courts, evidence, human rights, news, telecommunications, witnesses by sally

‘The European Court of Human Rights (“ECtHR”) has held that the use of telephone recordings as evidence in a criminal trial, despite the inability of the accused to challenge the caller, did not violate his rights under Article 6, ECHR. This judgment follows a number of Grand Chamber judgments on similar issues that have altered the ECtHR’s stance on the subject of absent witness evidence.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 4th April 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Controversial online court will need careful piloting – CJC – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 30th, 2016 in civil justice, courts, electronic filing, internet, judiciary, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Influential advisory body the Civil Justice Council has urged a measured approach to the adoption of a new online court for civil cases.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 30th March 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: The Bailii Lecture 2016 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 21st, 2016 in arbitration, banking, Commercial Court, courts, judges, rule of law, speeches by sally

‘As is well known, the development of the law in England and Wales was effected not only through cases where the claims were brought in the courts, but through claims that were brought in arbitrations. In 1979 (by statute) and 1981 (by Lords Denning and Diplock through an interpretation of that statute), the relationship between the courts and arbitration was changed on the perceived basis that it was damaging the attractiveness of London as a centre for dispute resolution through arbitration.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 18th March 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Speech by Lord Justice Fulford for NPCC: National Criminal Justice Performance Conference – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 17th, 2016 in case management, courts, criminal justice, judges, speeches by sally

‘Speech by Lord Justice Fulford for NPCC: National Criminal Justice Performance Conference.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 16th March 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk