‘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.’
The Independent, 12th December 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘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.’
The Guardian, 10th December 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘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.’
The Guardian, 9th December 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘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.’
Law Society's Gazette, 4th December 2024
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘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.’
Legal Futures, 27th November 2024
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘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.’
Law Society's Gazette, 22nd November 2024
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘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.’
Legal Futures, 4th November 2024
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘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.’
BBC News, 4th November 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘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.’
The Independent, 2nd November 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘In its most recent State of Care Report, the CQC has a lengthy and detailed ‘area of concern’ section on DoLS, the key findings being as follows:
– Too many people are waiting too long for a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisation, despite multiple examples of local authorities trying their best to reduce backlogs and ensure sustainable improvement.
– We remain worried about the rights of people at the heart of the DoLS system. We continue to see people in vulnerable circumstances without legal protection, which not only affects them but also their families, carers, staff and local authorities.
– The system has needed reform for over 10 years. Unless there is substantial intervention, we are concerned that these challenges will continue.’
Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 31st October 2024
‘A tribunal judge who did not hand down her judgment for more than 17 months has been issued with formal advice for misconduct. Lynn Griffin, who accepted responsibility for the delay, said she had been “required to fit the completion of the complex judgment around other work and her extensive judicial roles and responsibilities”.’
Law Society's Gazette, 25th October 2024
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘A recent Technology and Construction Court (TCC) case in the UK highlights several important issues that preoccupy outsourcing and technology lawyers during contract negotiations.’
OUT-LAW.com, 22nd October 2024
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
‘The Home Office has recruited 200 staff to clear a backlog of 23,300 modern slavery cases left by the last government, a minister has told the Guardian.’
The Guardian, 18th October 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Ministers will announce plans within days to give magistrates in England and Wales fresh powers to hand down longer custodial sentences to help reduce the backlog in crown courts and prisons, the Guardian understands.’
The Guardian, 17th October 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘There can be real loss and prejudice in some divorce cases if the final divorce order, previously the decree absolute, is granted before the final financial settlement and its implementation in circumstances when the paying party then dies. Automatic entitlement to pensions, the primary circumstance, but also insurance policies, beneficial interest in trusts and similar are then not available as the applicant is now divorced, financial remedy claims are no longer available after death and there might have to be a difficult and separate civil claim.’
Financial Remedies Journal, 7th October 2024
Source: financialremediesjournal.com
‘Sexual abuse victims believe they could have been saved from months of suffering after they claim a government scheme to allow them access to free court transcripts was “hidden” from them for months.’
The Independent, 13th October 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Buffer zones will soon be introduced outside abortion clinics to stop women seeking abortions from being harassed by protesters.’
The Independent, 18th September 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Magistrates in England and Wales could be given powers to hand down longer custodial sentences under proposals to help reduce the backlog in crown courts and prisons.’
BBC News, 16th September 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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