MPs to examine work of county court amid concerns over capacity and resources – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 24th, 2025 in county courts, delay, inquiries, local government, news, select committees by sally

‘The Justice Committee has launched a new inquiry to examine the work of the County Court amid “persistent” concerns over capacity and resources.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd January 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

MPs revive inquiry into county court delays – Legal Futures

Posted January 21st, 2025 in county courts, delay, inquiries, news, select committees by tracey

‘The justice select committee has launched a new inquiry into the county court, “amid persistent concerns over capacity and resources”, after the previous one was cut short by the election.’

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Legal Futures, 21st January 2025

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Child sexual abuse inquiry chair urges government to act – BBC News

‘Prof Alexis Jay, the former chair of a national inquiry into child sexual abuse, has called for the “full implementation” of reforms set out in her 2022 report, which warned of “endemic” abuse across society in England and Wales.’

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BBC News, 6th January 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Adherence to the Public Law Outline in London – issues for family lawyers – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 17th, 2024 in delay, families, family courts, local government, London, news by tracey

‘Rebecca Davies discusses the Family Presiding Judge for London, Mr Justice MacDonald’s new practice note and strategy aimed at reducing the huge backlog and delay in the London family courts and how family lawyers may be affected.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th December 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Family case must be reheard after barrister spoke to father and appeared for mother – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 17th, 2024 in child arrangements orders, delay, legal representation, news by tracey

‘An appeal against a child arrangements order has been granted after it emerged that a barrister who represented the mother in proceedings had also been approached in a professional capacity by the father.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th December 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

No Recourse to Public Funds and Article 3: Proving Systems Duty Breaches – EIN Blog

Posted December 16th, 2024 in delay, human rights, immigration, ministers' powers and duties, news by tracey

‘In SAG & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 2984 (Admin), the High Court considered challenges to the Secretary of State’s determination of applications to remove no recourse to public funds (“NRPF”) conditions placed on the Claimants’ leave to remain.’

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EIN Blog, 13th December 2024

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Courts reform to see quicker justice for victims and keeps streets safe – Ministry of Justice

‘Victims of crimes will see the perpetrators face justice more quickly under a once-in-a-generation review of criminal courts, the Lord Chancellor announced today (12 December).’

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Ministry of Justice, 12th December 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Defendants could be ‘diverted’ from criminal justice system amid record backlog – The Guardian

Posted December 16th, 2024 in criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, juries, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics, witnesses by tracey

‘People scheduled to stand trial could be “diverted” from the criminal justice system in efforts to tackle the “unsustainable” backlog of court cases, the head of a major justice review has said.’

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The Guardian, 14th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Some jury trials may be scrapped in England and Wales as court backlog hits record high – The Guardian

Posted December 13th, 2024 in courts, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, judges, juries, news, statistics, trials by sally

‘Jury trials could be abandoned for some criminal cases in England and Wales under a radical overhaul proposed by ministers as the crown courts backlog hit a record high.’

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The Guardian, 12th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Record court backlog as victims wait years for justice – BBC News

‘The backlog in courts handling the most serious crimes in England and Wales has reached an unprecedented high and is likely to rise further still.’

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BBC News, 12th December 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Right to jury trial under threat as Leveson asked to carry out ‘once in generation’ review of courts – The Independent

Posted December 12th, 2024 in criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, magistrates, news, sentencing by sally

‘Sir Brian Leveson is to lead a “once in a generation” review of the courts system in England and Wales to deal with the spiralling backlog of cases.’

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The Independent, 12th December 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Abandon some jury trials or fund crisis-hit system, former chief justice says – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2024 in budgets, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, juries, news by tracey

‘Ministers should consider abandoning jury trials for some crown court cases unless they properly fund a justice system “in serious crisis”, the former lord chief justice has said.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Lives on hold’: a day in the crown court where cases are delayed for years – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2024 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, judges, news, statistics by sally

‘Backlog in cases set to reach 100,000 in England and Wales without action on shortage of barristers and judges.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court delays ‘driving innocent prisoners to plead guilty’ in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Court backlogs are forcing alleged offenders to spend up to five years in jail awaiting trial and driving innocent people to plead guilty, two prison watchdogs have revealed.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Incentivise defence solicitors for early guilty pleas, DPP tells MPs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 4th, 2024 in Crown Court, delay, guilty pleas, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Letting the prosecution proactively approach the defence and incentivising lawyers for early guilty pleas could make a significant dent in the Crown court backlog, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service has told MPs.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 4th December 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Carr hits out over civil digitisation and criminal court sitting days – Legal Futures

‘The Lady Chief Justice yesterday complained to MPs about the government’s decisions to reduce the digitisation of civil justice and limit sitting days in the criminal courts.’

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Legal Futures, 27th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

More ‘dither and delay’? Government issues timetable for leasehold reform – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 25th, 2024 in bills, delay, government departments, housing, Law Commission, leases, news by tracey

‘The government has finally delivered a timetable for reforming the “feudal” leasehold system in England and Wales, but some campaigners have again accused Labour of procrastination.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd November 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lawyers’ “serious failings” topped by Court of Appeal errors – Legal Futures

Posted November 4th, 2024 in appeals, delay, immigration, judicial review, news, time limits by tracey

‘The “serious failings” of an immigration claimant’s lawyers in appealing a decision were rendered irrelevant by mistakes in the Court of Appeal office, the court has admitted.’

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Legal Futures, 4th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Watchdog says cladding removal deadline may be missed – BBC News

‘The government could miss its own cladding removal completion date if progress is not made to speed up the process, the UK’s spending watchdog has said. In a new report, external, the National Audit Office (NAO) said up to 60% of buildings with dangerous cladding had still not been identified by the government, and at its current rate of progress it was due to miss its own estimated completion date of 2035 for the works.’

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BBC News, 4th November 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Surge in backlog of wrongful conviction appeals at under-fire watchdog – The Independent

‘The backlog of people left waiting to know whether they will be allowed to reappeal an alleged miscarriage of justice has soared by nearly half in just four years, The Independent can reveal.’

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The Independent, 2nd November 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk