Ministry of Justice to consult on judicial review reforms including power to suspend quashing orders, removal of ‘Cart judgments’, and procedural changes – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Ministry of Justice has launched a consultation on giving the courts the power to suspend quashing orders, removing so-called “Cart judgments”, and introducing a series of changes to civil procedure rules, following recommendations by the Independent Review of Administrative Law (IRAL) led by Lord Faulks QC.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 19th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Online court may need only one procedure rule, says Briggs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 19th, 2021 in bills, civil procedure rules, internet, judges, news, remote hearings by sally

‘Legislation this year could introduce radically simplified procedure rules for the proposed online civil court, Supreme Court justice Lord Briggs has revealed. Addressing a Cyprus conference on civil procedure rules, Lord Briggs said the online court – whether for civil, family or tribunal cases – might have only one rule: “Do what it says in the electronic form.”’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 17th March 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Unwarranted attack’ by judge on indecent assault accuser could discourage women coming forward, she claims – The Independent

Posted March 15th, 2021 in complaints, harassment, judges, news, sexual offences, women by tracey

‘A woman who accused hedge fund boss Crispin Odey of indecent assault has complained about a judge’s “unwarranted attack” on her character, according to a report.’

Full Story

The Independent, 15th March 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Cab Rank Rule – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘In his blog for the Human Rights Hub, Edwin Cameron criticised Ms Dinah Rose QC, the President of Magdalen, for accepting the brief, in the Privy Council, to defend the Cayman Islands government’s law against same-sex marriage. Having long been one of my few judicial heroes, it is not easy for me to disagree with Edwin. However, on this point he is, with the greatest of respect, wrong.’

Full Story

Oxford Human Rights Hub, 7th March 2021

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Law in a Time of Crisis by Jonathan Sumption review – beyond the lockdown sceptic – The Guardian

‘The former judge and renowned historian loses his cool on Covid and the culture wars.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unhappy judges not as dissatisfied as they were, research shows – Litigation Futures

Posted March 1st, 2021 in government departments, judges, judiciary, news, statistics by tracey

‘Judges are a bit happier in their jobs than they were five years ago but feel seriously undervalued by the government, the latest judicial attitude survey has revealed.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 1st March 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Beech search warrant judge calls for police prosecutions – Daily Telegraph

‘The district judge persuaded to issue search warrants during Scotland Yard’s disastrous Operation Midland investigation has called for a criminal inquiry into the police officers responsible.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 24th February 2021

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge hits out at lack of regulated placement for vulnerable, suicidal 16 year old, despite 11 High Court hearings and sending series of judgments to ministers – Local Government Lawyer

‘An exasperated High Court judge has sent a fourth judgment to ministers over the continuing unavailability of a regulated placement for a vulnerable 16 year old with multifaceted difficulties and at a high risk of serious self-harm or suicide.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

McFarlane tells family judges to curb out-of-hours hearings – Legal Futures

Posted January 11th, 2021 in coronavirus, families, family courts, judges, news, remote hearings by sally

‘The president of the Family Division has told judges and lawyers to stop the increasing practice of holding virtual hearings outside of normal court hours, citing wellbeing concerns.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 8th January 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

W (Children): judge’s recusal does not indicate bias – Transparency Project

Posted December 21st, 2020 in appeals, bias, children, contact orders, families, judges, news, recusal by sally

‘Reading the case name W (Children: Reopening/recusal) I assumed that this would be another of those applications by a party, invariably the father, for the recusal of the judge in a children application, on the basis of alleged bias.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 18th December 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Former appeal court judge to lead UK review of Human Rights Act – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2020 in human rights, judges, news, statutory interpretation, treaties by sally

‘A former court of appeal judge has been appointed to lead a review into how the Human Rights Act (HRA) is being interpreted in UK courts.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 7th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge orders jury to clear woman of murdering Emily Jones in Bolton – The Guardian

‘A woman with a history of violence and mental health problems who confessed to killing seven-year-old Emily Jones, has been cleared of murder.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ex-judge Sir Peter Gross to head human rights law review – BBC News

‘Former Court of Appeal judge Sir Peter Gross has been appointed to lead an independent review of the Human Rights Act.’

Full Story

BBC News, 7th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Commercial Court urges more use of junior advocates – Litigation Futures

‘The Commercial Court and COMBAR are looking at ways to ensure that junior advocates can get more time on their feet, encouraging solicitors and clients to consider their use on discrete issues.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 4th December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Increase guideline hourly rates by 35% pending CJC review, judge says – Litigation Futures

Posted December 4th, 2020 in civil procedure rules, costs, fees, judges, news, solicitors by sally

‘The guideline hourly rates (GHR) should be increased to take account of inflation while they are being reviewed, meaning an increase of 35%, the High Court ruled this week.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Indefinite sentences ‘the greatest single stain on justice system’ – The Guardian

Posted December 4th, 2020 in criminal justice, imprisonment, judges, Ministry of Justice, news, sentencing by sally

‘A former supreme court justice has called for urgent action in dealing with prisoners languishing under indefinite sentences, branding the now defunct scheme “the greatest single stain on our criminal justice system”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lord Chief Justice press conference December 2020 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Lord Chief Justice press conference December 2020’

Full transcript

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 2nd December 2020

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Lord Chief Justice sounds warning over unprecedented political interference in courts – The Independent

Posted December 2nd, 2020 in judges, judiciary, legal profession, news, parliament, political parties, rule of law by tracey

‘The Lord Chief Justice has warned of unprecedented levels of political interference over the work of courts in England and Wales, suggesting that MPs should be taught about “boundaries”.’

Full Story

The Independent, 2nd December 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge wrong to find ‘subject to contract’ compromise binding – Litigation Futures

Posted November 23rd, 2020 in appeals, contracts, judges, loans, news, solicitors by sally

‘A judge was wrong to rule that solicitors had reached a binding compromise on a piece of litigation, when their correspondence had expressly been “subject to contract”, the Court of Appeal has decided.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 23rd November 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Hodge worries about impact of pandemic on young lawyers – Litigation Futures

‘The deputy president of the Supreme Court has expressed fears that young lawyers have been unable to train properly during the pandemic and urged the profession to ensure there is no lasting damage to their education.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 12th November 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com