‘Soft sentence’ correction scheme extended to terror offences – Ministry of Justice

’19 terror-related offences will be added to Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to keep families and communities safe.’

Full Story

Ministry of Justice, 15th July 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

Lawyer who started her career with work experience aged 15 becomes UK’s youngest ever female judge at just 31 – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 8th, 2017 in Crown Court, judges, news, solicitors by tracey

‘A woman who began her career in law as a 15-year-old on work experience has become the country’s youngest ever female judge.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th March 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Crown court sentencing being recorded for pilot project that could bring judges’ comments to TV – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 28th, 2016 in Crown Court, media, news, pilot schemes by tracey

‘Criminal court cases could soon be broadcast into living rooms across the country after a landmark project to explore the viability of filming legal proceedings.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th July 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Crown Court Bench Book – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted May 13th, 2016 in criminal procedure, Crown Court, judiciary, juries, press releases by tracey

‘The main aim of this Compendium is to provide guidance on directing the jury in Crown Court trials and when sentencing, though it contains some practical suggestions in other areas, for example jury management, which it is hoped will be helpful..’

Full press release

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 10th May 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.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.’

Full story

The Guardian, 25th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Number of dropped Crown Court prosecutions at highest level in five years – BBC News

‘The number and proportion of prosecutions dropped at Crown Courts in England and Wales has risen to its highest level in five years. More than 12,600 cases were discontinued from 2014 to 2015 – one in every eight Crown Court cases. At the same time, the proportion of Crown Court cases resulting in a conviction fell below the 80% mark for the first time since 2010-11.’

Full story

BBC News, 11th April 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crown courts to allow filming for first time – BBC News

‘TV cameras could be allowed into crown courts in England and Wales for the first time, as part of a pilot scheme proposed by the Ministry of Justice.’

Full story

MOJ Press release

BBC News, 20th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

More cases to be heard by magistrates – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Criminal cases should be sent to the Crown court only if they are “clearly unsuitable” for trial in the magistrates’ court, the Sentencing Council says in fresh guidance to ensure cases are tried and sentenced in the appropriate court.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 10th December 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Crown courts in England and Wales ‘chaotic and archaic’ – BBC News

Posted November 4th, 2015 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, news, reports, solicitors, victims, witnesses by sally

‘Victims and witnesses are often left marginalised in a court system that is “archaic” and “chaotic”, a report by the Criminal Justice Alliance has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th November 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar Council working group re-designs AGFS model – The Bar Council

Posted October 2nd, 2015 in barristers, Crown Court, fees, legal aid, press releases by tracey

‘A Bar Council working group has today put forward to the Ministry of Justice a completely re-drawn graduated fee scheme for advocacy in Crown Court cases. For legally aided criminal defence cases in the Crown Court where the trial is expected to last between 1 to 60 days, the defence advocate is paid by a formula in the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS).’

Full story

The Bar Council, 1st October 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

DPP boosts support for victims by moving staff to Crown Courts – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted September 11th, 2015 in Crown Court, Crown Prosecution Service, news, paralegals, victims, witnesses by tracey

‘The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Alison Saunders, is boosting the support offered to victims and witnesses at Crown Court proceedings by ensuring that the vital service offered by our dedicated CPS paralegal staff is provided exactly where it is needed – at court where the victims and witnesses are.’

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 11th September 2015

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Criminal court charges ‘trapping’ penniless suspects – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A charity today called for an urgent review of criminal courts charges after collating cases which it says prove the fees are ‘unrealistic and unfair’.’
Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th August 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ring Fencing – New Square Chambers

Posted July 27th, 2015 in Crown Court, disclosure, news, self-incrimination, stay of proceedings by sally

‘There is an important question of the circumstances in which a civil trial can take place during the period when a defendant is being prosecuted for related matters in the Crown Court.’

Full story

New Square Chambers, 29th June 2015

Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk

Consultation on proposed amendments to allocation guideline – Sentencing Council

Posted June 19th, 2015 in Crown Court, magistrates, press releases, trials by tracey

‘The Sentencing Council has launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the allocation guideline.’

Full press release

Sentencing Council, 19th June 2015

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Keep legal executives out of the Crown Court, Rivlin report demands – Legal Futures

‘A report for the Bar Council on the future of criminal justice and advocacy has recommended that legal executives are kept out of the Crown Courts, while solicitors should only be granted rights of audience if they have undergone the same level of training as barristers.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 31st March 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Crown court fees – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 2nd, 2014 in courts, Crown Court, fees, news, trials by sally

‘The first change relates to cases when the defendant elected trial and solicitors had been restricted to the fixed fee, even though the Crown did not proceed at all, and the defendant is acquitted on the order of a judge. In these cases, provided the case goes beyond the plea and case management hearing, a cracked trial fee will be paid.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 1st December 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Conference: level the advocacy playing field – barristers – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 11th, 2014 in advocacy, barristers, competition, Crown Court, news, solicitor advocates by tracey

‘The Criminal Bar Association will launch a campaign on Monday aimed at “levelling the playing field” between barristers and solicitor-advocates, who it alleges enjoy an unfair competitive advantage.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 8th November 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Will Cornick sentence disproportionate, say youth justice campaigners – The Guardian

Posted November 5th, 2014 in Crown Court, murder, news, rehabilitation, sentencing, young offenders by sally

‘Youth justice campaigners have voiced concerns over the 20-year minimum tariff given to the 16-year-old schoolboy who murdered teacher Ann Maguire.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th November 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fraud, bribery and money laundering offences guideline comes into effect – Sentencing Council

Posted October 2nd, 2014 in bribery, Crown Court, fraud, magistrates, money laundering, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Following a period of training and implementation the definitive guideline on fraud, bribery and money laundering offences came into effect on 1 October 2014.’

Versions for the Crown Court and magistrates’ courts

Sentencing Council, 1st October 2014

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Child witness court video evidence expansion planned – BBC News

Posted September 10th, 2014 in children, Crown Court, evidence, news, sexual offences, trials, victims, video recordings, witnesses by sally

‘Changes to allow children and abuse victims in England and Wales to film their evidence before a trial begins should be brought in “as fast as possible”, a justice minister has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk