Child sexual abuse victims are being failed by courts, says NSPCC – The Guardian

“Children giving evidence in court in sexual abuse cases need to be given more support because many suffer from stress before a trial, the NSPCC has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The unsung heroes who share court victims’ burden of grief and trauma – The Independent

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in charities, courts, news, victims by sally

“A team of volunteers supports those exposed to some of the Old Bailey’s most harrowing cases.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Balancing the Niqab in the Courtroom on the Head of a Pin: the Case of D(R) – The Barristers’ Hub

Posted October 1st, 2013 in courts, evidence, freedom of expression, Islam, news, women by sally

“Professor Susan Edwards, following recent judicial guidance and debate on the wearing of the niqab, provides both expert and legal opinion on the issue.”

Full story

The Barristers’ Hub, 1st October 2013

Source: www.barristershub.co.uk

Witnesses tell of feeling abandoned and uninformed in criminal court cases – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2013 in barristers, courts, criminal procedure, news, reports, victims, witnesses by sally

“Victims and witnesses are being marginalised and put through needless stress and anxiety in the criminal courts in England and Wales, according to new research.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Veils in court – should they be allowed? – Legal Week

Posted September 20th, 2013 in courts, evidence, freedom of expression, Islam, news, women by sally

“The media have been riveted in recent days by a drama in Blackfriars Crown Court, where a defendant charged with intimidating a witness refused to remove her full-face veil or ‘niqab’.”

Full story

Legal Week, 19th September 2013

Source: www.legalweek.com

Preserving your right to claim elsewhere: new rule 52 – No. 5 Chambers

Posted September 19th, 2013 in courts, employment tribunals, estoppel, news, regulations, tribunals by sally

“Charles Crow considers how Claimants can move their cases between the Tribunal and the Court without getting caught by the doctrine of estoppel.”

Full story

No. 5 Chambers, 16th September 2013

Source: www.no5.com

Veils and ignorance: defendant not allowed to wear niqaab when giving evidence – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 19th, 2013 in courts, evidence, freedom of expression, human rights, identification, Islam, news, trials, women by sally

“The ruling by HHJ Murphy in Blackfriars Crown Court this Monday that a defendant in a criminal trial should not be allowed to wear a niqaab (face veil) whilst giving her evidence has prompted calls for a public debate about the wearing of face veils in public more generally. Adam Wagner has already commented on the case here. A summary and analysis of the decision follows below.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th September 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The Niqaab issue is too important to be left to liberal instinct – UK Human Rights Blog

“Yesterday, before His Honour Judge Peter Murphy ruled that a female Muslim defendant in a criminal trial must remove her face-covering veil (niqaab) whilst giving evidence, Home Office Minister Jeremy Brown said he was ‘instinctively uneasy’ about restricting religious freedoms, but that there should be a national debate over banning the burka.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 17th September 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Wearing veil should be the woman’s choice, says Theresa May – The Guardian

Posted September 18th, 2013 in courts, evidence, freedom of expression, Islam, news, religious discrimination, women by sally

“The government should not tell women what to wear, the home secretary has said, amid ongoing debate over the use of full-face veils.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.com

Analysis: The niqab judgement explained – BBC News

Posted September 17th, 2013 in courts, identification, Islam, news, witnesses, women by sally

“Last week I blogged on a very modern multicultural dilemma at Blackfriars Crown Court – where a judge had to rule on whether a defendant could appear in the dock wearing a niqab, a type of Muslim veil that conceals the whole face, other than the eyes.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Muslim woman must remove veil to give trial evidence – BBC News

“A Muslim woman can stand trial wearing a full-face veil but must remove it to give evidence, a judge has ruled.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Niqabs in court: should full-face veils be banned? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

“We’re finally up against it now, aren’t we? After years of dancing round the issue, the law is finally called upon to make a specific ruling on the wearing of the niqab. So let’s make sure we know what we are talking about, because without a doubt there will be proponents and opponents alike who seek to interpret the decision (whatever it may be) to suit their cause.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th September 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Judge to decide if defendant can wear niqab – The Guardian

“Decision due on Monday on whether woman must show face in court or will be allowed to wear full-face veil.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Veil exposes courtroom quandary – BBC News

Posted September 13th, 2013 in courts, identification, Islam, news, pleadings, precedent, women by tracey

“Sitting in Blackfriars Crown Court in south London, I watched a very modern, multicultural dilemma. Back in August, a Muslim woman was due to appear, accused of intimidating a witness. The woman, whom the BBC isn’t naming for legal reasons, was expected to enter a plea. But Judge Peter Murphy said he could not hear that plea because he could not identify her: she was wearing a niqab, the type of black face covering worn by some Muslim women that only leaves their eyes visible.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Three’s a crowd for simple magistrates court cases, says minister – The Guardian

Posted September 11th, 2013 in cautions, courts, Crown Court, fines, magistrates, news, police, sentencing by tracey

“Chris Grayling says it is absurd that benches of three magistrates are required to rubber-stamp ‘foregone conclusions.’ ”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

On-the-spot fines are making High Streets ‘fair game’ to young criminals – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 11th, 2013 in cautions, courts, fines, magistrates, news, police, recidivists, young offenders by tracey

“Britain’s High Streets are at risk of becoming ‘fair game’ to young criminals who are ‘blighting our communities’ because they know they can escape with on-the-spot fines, the Justice Secretary warns today.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Specialist planning court proposed to boost UK business – Ministry of Justice

“A specialist planning court has been proposed by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling to help ensure crucial development projects no longer get mired in unnecessary legal delay.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 6th September 2013

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

UK judge defends ‘demonised’ Strasbourg court – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 6th, 2013 in courts, human rights, judges, news, speeches by tracey

“Sir Nicolas Bratza, until last year president of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, said that although the court has been ‘demonised in the popular press and elsewhere as the elephant in the room, a kangaroo court and a Mickey Mouse tribunal’, the work of UK courts in applying the ECHR has been ‘exemplary.’ ”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th September 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Court failings scupper 500 cases a week – The Independent

Posted September 5th, 2013 in courts, Crown Prosecution Service, delay, news, reports, victims, witnesses by sally

“More than 500 court cases are being thrown out or delayed each week due to failings by prosecutors or in the court system, it has been claimed.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Commercial Court waiting times increase – Litigation Futures

Posted September 3rd, 2013 in Commercial Court, courts, delay, news, reports by sally

“There are lengthening delays in the Commercial Court, with the Lord Chief Justice speaking of the ‘powerful’ pressures on the civil justice system.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 3rd September 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com