Modular courts piloted to meet soaring workloads – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 4th, 2011 in Crown Court, news, pilot schemes by sally

“Temporary courtrooms are being used to extend a busy crown court and help it to meet its increased workload.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 3rd February 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Most child offenders should not face court, says report – BBC News

Posted January 5th, 2011 in children, criminal justice, Crown Court, news by sally

“The government is being urged to end Crown Court trials for children in England and Wales.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th January 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

More Crown Court trials without jury may go ahead – BBC News

Posted May 6th, 2010 in Crown Court, news, trial without jury by sally

“Two more crown court trials without a jury may be held, just over a month after the first juryless trial for centuries, the BBC has learned.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th May 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crown Court defendants to be means tested – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 12th, 2010 in costs, Crown Court, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“Five Crown Courts will today be the first in England and Wales to introduce a new scheme that will ensure people convicted of a crime contribute to their defence costs, where they have the means to do so.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 11th January 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Regina v IB – WLR Daily

Posted December 10th, 2009 in competition, Crown Court, EC law, jurisdiction, law reports, price fixing by sally

Regina v IB  [2009] EWCA Crim 2575; [2009] WLR (D) 357

“A ‘cartel offence’ under s 188 of the Enterprise Act 2002 was not a ‘national competition law’ within the meaning of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003, so that a Crown Court had jurisdiction to try a prosecution for such an offence although it was not a competition authority designated under art 35 of that Regulation.”

WLR Daily, 10th December 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Developments in Crown Court Advocacy – Speech by Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales

Posted October 13th, 2009 in advocacy, Crown Court, speeches by sally

Developments in Crown Court Advocacy (PDF)

Speech by Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales

The Kalisher Lecture 2009, 6th October 2009

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

The instruction of prosecution advocates in the Crown Court and payment of counsel by the CPS – HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

“Inspectors assessed internal and external prosecuting advocates in the Crown Court. Two-thirds were fully competent, including some very good. A quarter of advocates were lacklustre. Only 7.9% were less than competent, including some very poor.”

Full press release

HMcpsi, 16th July 2009

Source: www.hmcpsi.gov.uk

First trial without jury approved – BBC News

Posted June 18th, 2009 in Crown Court, juries, news, robbery, trial without jury by sally

“The Court of Appeal has ruled that a criminal trial can take place in front of a judge without a jury for the first time in England and Wales.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Practice Direction (Criminal Proceedings: Victim Personal Statements; Pleas of Guilty in the Crown Court; Forms) – Times Law Reports

Posted May 19th, 2009 in criminal procedure, Crown Court, practice directions, victims by sally

Practice Direction (Criminal proceedings: Victim personal statements; Pleas of guilty in the crown court; forms)

“Amended provisions concerning the practice in criminal proceedings in relation to victim personal statements, pleas of guilty in the crown court and forms would come into force with immediate effect.”

The Times, May 19th 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Why the courts are at breaking point – The Times

Posted March 18th, 2009 in Crown Court, delay, news by sally

“The Crown Court in England and Wales is at ‘breaking point’ after a 5 per cent rise in cases to 136,000 a year, an independent watchdog has found.”

Full story

The Times, 17th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Consultations launched on payment of Crown Court defence costs – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 6th, 2008 in costs, Crown Court, legal aid, news by sally

“Those found guilty of criminal offences may have to pay towards the cost of their defence the government announced today as it published two consultation papers.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 6th November 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Increased powers to tackle fradusters – Attorney General’s Office

Posted July 21st, 2008 in compensation, Crown Court, fraud, press releases by sally

“Today the Attorney General Baroness Scotland will announce new measures that are designed to prevent fraudsters committing further offences, and ensure that they pay back all the victims of their crimes.”

Full press release

Attrorney-General’s Office, 18th July 2008

Source: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

Kept a secret by the Justice Ministry, until now. How the judges ran the Crown Court – The Times

Posted March 18th, 2008 in Crown Court, judiciary, news by sally

“An unprecedented report that exposes an inefficient and judge-centred culture in the Crown Court has been obtained by The Times after a three-year battle with officials determined to suppress it.”

Full story

The Times, 18th March 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Draft joint inspection report on the Crown Court 2004 – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 4th, 2008 in criminal justice, Crown Court, reports by sally

“The Ministry of Justice has released a draft report that was prepared in 2003/04 by three criminal justice inspectorates following a joint inspection of the Crown Court … Although the report was not published at the time, and remains in draft format, a recent decision by the Information Commissioner has identified a genuine public interest in the disclosure of the report.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 4th March 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk