Judge sacked for trolling people on online news stories – BBC News
‘A judge has been sacked for using a pseudonym to post abusive comments on a newspaper website about cases he was involved in.’
BBC News, 12th April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: internet
Let lawyers control supply of electronic legal documents, report says – Legal Futures
‘Lawyers should control the supply of “so-called standard electronic documents”, such as confidentiality deeds or contracts, a report has suggested.’
Legal Futures, 11th April 2017
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Katie Hopkins and serious harm – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Both Katie Hopkins and Jack Monroe are outspoken, including on Twitter. During anti-government protests following the 2015 general election, graffiti was sprayed on to a memorial to the women of the second world war. Hopkins tweeted at 7.20pm on 18 May: ‘@MsJackMonroe scrawled on any memorials recently? Vandalised the memory of those who fought for your freedom. Grandma got any more medals?’ Monroe responded 13 minutes later: ‘I have NEVER “scrawled on a memorial”. Brother in the RAF. Dad was a Para in the Falklands. You’re a piece of shit’. Later that evening she demanded Hopkins delete the tweet, apologise and make a £5,000 donation to charity. By 9.47pm, Hopkins, having realised she had confused Monroe with journalist Laurie Penny, had deleted the first tweet but further tweeted: ‘Can someone explain to me – in 10 words or less – the difference between irritant @PennyRed and social anthrax @MsJackMonroe.’ On 2 June, Hopkins finally tweeted a retraction, but no apology: ‘@MsJackMonroe I was confused about identity. I got it wrong.’’
Law Society’s Gazette, 10th April 2017
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Judge rules ‘paedophile hunters’ can continue posing as children online – The Guardian
‘Self-described “paedophile hunters” have welcomed a court ruling that will allow them to continue to pose as children online to catch sexual predators.’
The Guardian, 8th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
You’ve got bail: judge lets lawyer off over beeping phone – The Guardian
‘The sudden trilling of a mobile phone amid the solemn atmosphere of a court hearing often leads to stern glances from the bench and cringing embarrassment from the offender. But Mr Justice Holman, one of the longest-serving high court judges in England and Wales, responded to an electronic interruption from one lawyer’s device in the family court on Thursday with compassionate forbearance.’
The Guardian, 6th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
University lecturer jailed after using bitcoins to buy drugs over ‘dark web’ that led to friend’s death – Daily Telegraph
‘A university lecturer has been jailed after buying a cocktail of drugs over the “dark web” that led to the death of his friend.’
Daily Telegraph, 5th April 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Revenge porn victims complain police treated their abuser ‘like the victim’ – Daily Telegraph
‘Revenge porn victims have complained police treated their abuser ‘like the victim’ after he was given police protection at court and was not sent to jail.’
Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Home Secretary statement: meeting with Communication Service Providers – Home Office
‘Home Secretary Amber Rudd has given a statement following her meeting today with Communication Service Providers.’
Home Office, 30th March 2017
Source: www.gov.uk/home-office
Top tech firms avoid encryption issue in government talks – The Guardian
‘Leading tech firms have promised to work closely with the government to remove extremist material from the internet and social media following a meeting with the home secretary, Amber Rudd.’
The Guardian, 30th March 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
McKenzie Friend Marketplace to ban “active” students from giving legal advice in wake of criticism – Legal Futures
‘The McKenzie Friend Marketplace (MFM), which hopes to help hundreds of law students find paid work offering legal services, has responded to criticism from practitioners by announcing that it will ban active students from providing legal advice – although they will be able to give clients other types of support.’
Legal Futures, 28th March 2017
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Snooping by police to be monitored by independent authority – The Guardian
‘A new independent surveillance procedure to prevent police officers granting themselves permission to access personal emails and records of web-browsing history is being established by the government.’
The Guardian, 28th March 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
WhatsApp must be accessible to authorities, says Amber Rudd – The Guardian
‘Amber Rudd has called for the police and intelligence agencies to be given access to WhatsApp and other encrypted messaging services to thwart future terror attacks, prompting opposition politicians and civil liberties groups to say her demand was unrealistic and disproportionate.’
The Guardian, 26th March 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Plusnet fined £880,000 for charging more than 1,000 ex-customers – The Guardian
‘Plusnet, the BT-owned broadband and landline company, has been fined almost £900,000 by Ofcom for continuing to charge more than 1,000 customers even though they had cancelled their accounts.’
The Guardian, 22nd March 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
MPs cite anti-terror law over Google ‘inaction’ on far-Right group’s video – Daily Telegraph
‘Google risked breaking anti-terrorism laws by allegedly failing to remove illegal recruitment videos by a banned far-Right group, MPs have suggested.’
Daily Telegraph, 21st March 2017
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Prisons and Courts Bill to improve access to justice and better protect the vulnerable – Ministry of Justice
‘Plans to revolutionise the courts to make them more straightforward and efficient, and deliver swifter justice for victims.’
Ministry of Justice, 20th March 2017
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
News focus: ‘Virtual justice’ and the IT panacea – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Just over six years ago, a taxpayer funded independent study of a pilot “virtual court” concluded that: “A rollout based on the pilot’s performance and parameters is likely to cost more money than it saves. A break-even scenario may be achieved, but this is still likely to be a challenge.” ‘
Law Society’s Gazette, 20th March 2017
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Litigant in person network goes live to co-ordinate support for access to justice – Litigation Futures
‘The Litigant in Person Network – an online platform which aims to connect a wide range of people with a common goal of improving access to justice – has gone live this week.’
Litigation Futures, 16th March 2017
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Justice reformer condemns digital criminal courts plan – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Government plans for virtual court hearings and online guilty pleas for criminal offences are poorly costed, based on weak evidence and have not been subjected to proper consultation, a national justice charity says today.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 15th March 2017
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
