Asylum seekers: Delays in processing applications rise – BBC News
‘Delays in processing UK asylum applications increased significantly last year, official figures suggest.’
BBC News, 31st August 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: delay
Four more Nightingale courts open – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The Law Society has once again urged the government to avoid extending court hours to reduce the justice backlog after four more Nightingale courts opened this week.’
Law Society's Gazette, 18th August 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
NHS, solicitors and patients group agree Covid-19 claims protocol – Litigation Futures
‘NHS Resolution, the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers (SCIL) and patient safety charity Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) have signed up to a new protocol to better manage claims during Covid-19.’
Litigation Futures, 14th August 2020
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Windrush Lawyers: ‘The Government Is Placing Boulders In The Way Of Justice’ – Each Other
‘It has been more than a year since the government launched its scheme to compensate victims of the Windrush scandal, and at least five applicants have died before receiving a penny. EachOther speaks to Windrush lawyers about the “boulders” being placed in the way of justice and what needs to be done.’
Each Other, 6th August 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
Another recusal refusal – but this time the Court of Appeal steps in – Transparency Project
‘In the second such case in a month, a judge has refused to recuse herself at the request of a litigant, but on this occasion the Court of Appeal has reversed that decision and ordered that she step down from the case and let another judge take over.’
Transparency Project, 3rd August 2020
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
Justice committee launches inquiry into court backlog – Legal Futures
‘MPs have today launched an inquiry to investigate delays in the court system and what should be done to clear the backlog of cases.’
Legal Futures, 30th July 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Justice secretary drops plan to replace jury trials – Legal Futures
‘Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland has dropped a widely criticised plan to replace juries in some criminal trials with a judge and two magistrates.’
Legal Futures, 23rd July 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Judge rails at lawyers’ ‘thoroughly disorganised’ case presentation – Law Society’s Gazette
‘A High Court judge has urged parties not to expect to be given sympathy in future if they continue to flout procedural rules and file evidence late.’
Law Society's Gazette, 21st July 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Location of ‘Nightingale courts’ to tackle case backlog in England and Wales revealed – The Guardian
‘The locations of 10 emergency “Nightingale courts” created by the Ministry of Justice for socially distanced trials to tackle the massive backlog in cases in England and Wales have been announced.’
The Guardian, 19th July 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Mystery directions – Nearly Legal
‘In the evening of Friday 17 July, The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020 appeared, having apparently been laid earlier that day. These will come into force on 23 August 2020.’
Nearly Legal, 18th July 2020
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
Parents of man who died after police restraint challenge delay over Seni’s law – The Guardian
‘The parents of a young black man who died after being restrained in a mental health hospital are asking why a law passed in his name almost two years ago has not yet been enacted by the government.’
The Guardian,, 20th July 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Coronavirus: Ten ‘Nightingale Courts’ in England and Wales to open – BBC News
‘Ten temporary courts are being set up to help clear a backlog of hearings caused by the coronavirus pandemic.’
BBC News, 19th July 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘More and more’ victims dropping out of prosecutions as court backlog mounts during coronavirus – The Independent
‘“More and more” victims are dropping out of court cases as delays mount amid an increasing backlog, a leading expert has warned. Dame Vera Baird, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, told The Independent changes to hearings caused by the coronavirus pandemic were partly to blame.’
The Independent, 14th April 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Court of Appeal Re-examines Test for Causation Under Section 15 of the Equality Act 2010 – Old Square Chambers
‘The Court of Appeal has delivered judgment in the case of Robinson v Department for Work and Pensions [2020] EWCA Civ 859, a decision which confirms that it is insufficient for a Claimant to argue, on a claim under section 15 of the Equality Act 2010, that “but for” their disability they would not have been put in a situation that led to unfavourable treatment. Rather, the focus needs to be on the reasons for the treatment itself. In so finding, the Court has approved of the obiter comments of Underhill LJ in Dunn v Secretary of State for Justice [2019] IRLR 298.’
Old Square Chambers, 7th July 2020
Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk
Proposal To Scrap Juries ‘Shocking’ Amid Black Lives Matter Movement – Each Other
‘Proposals to scrap juries for some trials to reduce court backlogs would remove the “only part of the criminal justice process” proven not to discriminate against minority ethnic groups, a legal expert has warned.’
Each Other, 9th July 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
MoJ favours ‘Nightingale’ crown courts to tackle huge backlog of cases – Thomas More Chambers
‘So reports Owen Bowcott, the legal affairs correspondent for The Guardian today. “Nightingale” courts being venues which have been identified as suitable for trials utilising public spaces such a civic centres or university moot halls; apparently to be renamed Blackstone Courts.’
Thomas More Chambers, 3rd July 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
“Tsunami of post-Covid litigation” could overwhelm courts – Litigation Futures
‘A “tsunami of litigation” powered by the Covid-19 pandemic could leave the civil justice system “overwhelmed” by the end of the year, a well-known solicitor and ADR specialist has predicted.’
Litigation Futures, 8th July 2020
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
