Our Human Rights: A joint Effort? – Speech by Lord Wilson
‘Lord Wilson at the Howard J. Trienens Lecture at the Northwestern University, Chicago.’
Supreme Court, 25th September 2018
Source: www.supremecourt.uk
Category: judges
Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Chancellor of the High Court: Certainty v. Creativity: Some pointers towards the development of the common law – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
‘Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Chancellor of the High Court: Certainty v. Creativity: Some pointers towards the development of the common law.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 17th September 2018
Source: www.judiciary.uk
Female majority to hear Supreme Court case for first time in history – Daily Telegraph
‘The UK’s highest court is to have a female majority hear a case for the first time in 600 years.’
Daily Telegraph, 18th September 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
MPs who use parliamentary privilege to break court orders undermine the judiciary, says Lord Chief Justice – Daily Telegraph
‘MPs who “abuse” parliamentary privilege to break injunctions are eroding confidence in the justice system, the Lord Chief Justice has said. Lord Burnett of Maldon, the head of the judiciary, warned that the phenomenon was part of the “gentle erosion of support” for the courts.’
Daily Telegraph, 10th September 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Family court judge who inspired new BBC film The Children Act speaks of heartbreak over harrowing case – Daily Telegraph
‘It’s the film that’s had cinema-goers reaching for a tissue. The deeply moving tale of a critically ill child whose parents refused to allow him to have a blood transfusion because of their religious beliefs.’
Daily Telegraph
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Judge in Uber’s London legal battle steps aside over husband’s links to firm – The Guardian
‘The judge at the heart of tech giant Uber’s legal battle to operate in London has stepped aside to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.’
The Guardian, 18th August 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Trinidad judge loses bid to halt legal inquiry into his private life – The Guardian
‘Judges in London have dismissed an attempt by the chief justice of Trinidad and Tobago to halt a legal investigation into his private life and alleged business dealings.’
The Guardian, 16th August 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Final Presidential words on transparency – Transparency Project
‘Sir James Munby, who retired as President of the Family Division at the end of July, has attracted a good deal of media attention over the years and has been innovative and enthusiastic about constructively engaging with the media. He was vocal as early as 2013 (in a speech to the Society of Editors) about his wish for the family courts and the Court of Protection to become more open and the important role of the media (the press in particular) to make the workings of the family justice system accessible to the public. Although the government had seemingly thrown in the transparency towel after the failed legislation of 2010, he was determined to address the perceived problem of lack of confidence in “secret” family courts.’
Transparency Project, 6th August 2018
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
Judge calls for investigation into colleagues over race discrimination case – The Guardian
‘A judge is calling for an investigation into colleagues who tried to suspend him over remarks he made about racism and the judiciary after receiving a formal apology over the matter.’
The Guardian, 7th August 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
Judge takes over father’s cross-examination in case involving rape allegations – and it ends up being unfair on everyone involved – Transparency Project
‘Mr Justice Hayden is a High Court Judge who has been very outspoken about the potential for the court process to be abusive of those who are already victims of domestic abuse. In a case called Re A (a minor) (fact finding; unrepresented party) [2017] EWHC 1195 (Fam), having permitted the unrepresented father to directly question the mother (albeit with special measures in place so they didn’t have to confront each other by line of sight) he memorably said ‘Never again’. Hayden J said it was ‘a stain on the reputation of our Family Justice system that a Judge can still not prevent a victim being cross examined by an alleged perpetrator’. Today he has published an appeal judgment overturning a fact-finding decision in a case where another judge tried to cross examine the mother on behalf of the father accused of rape because (Hayden J said) the process was unfair and the decision unsound. The full judgment can be read here : PS v BP [2018] EWHC 1987 (Fam) (27 July 2018), but this blog post explains it.’
Transparency Project, 30th July 2018
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
The rise of private FDRs – Family Law
‘In his last interview for the Family Law Bar Association’s Family Affairs magazine, Sir James Munby ruminated that ‘I should have liked to do more on the money front’. In the same interview, when pondering his next steps, he makes clear, ‘I’m not – and I tempt the fates by saying this – I am not going off to become a private family mediator. I am not going to do private FDRs’.’
Family Law, 30th July 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
A tribute to Sir James Munby – the people’s president – Family Law
‘Sir James Munby retires as President of the Family Division having had an undeniable impact on family justice reform. Stepping into the role at a time of unprecedented change, Sir James has not shied away from the difficulties of the role, often under the harsh spotlight of media attention.’
Family Law, 27th July 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
Lady Hale breaks from tradition with smiling Gray’s Inn portrait – Daily Telegraph
‘She’s a trailblazer in more ways than one.
And Baroness Hale, the first female president of the Supreme Court, has again broken new ground as she becomes the only smiling portrait to hang in the hall of one of London’s illustrious Inns of Court.’
Daily Telegraph, 26th July 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Lady Hale at the Royal College of Psychiatrists Annual Conference, Birmingham – Supreme Court
‘Lady Hale at the Royal College of Psychiatrists Annual Conference, Birmingham. Is it time for yet another Mental Health Act?’
Supreme Court, 24th June 2018
Source: www.supremecourt.uk
Supreme Court and Court of Appeal replenish ranks with string of new appointments – Litigation Futures
‘Ten senior judicial appointments were announced yesterday, with Lady Justice Arden becoming the third woman to sit on the Supreme Court.’
Litigation Futures, 28th June 2018
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Fathers let down by courts which have ‘fallen short’, says new head of family division – Daily Telegraph
‘Fathers are being cut off from their children because the courts have “fallen short”, the incoming head of the family court has said.’
Daily Telegraph, 25th June 2018
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
A very English scandal – New Law Journal
‘Alec Samuels shares his reflections on the legal significance of the Jeremy Thorpe case.’
New Law Journal, 21st June 2018
Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk
Speech by Lord Justice McFarlane: Care Crisis Review Launch – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
‘Speech by Lord Justice McFarlane: Care Crisis Review Launch.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 13th June 2018
Source: www.judiciary.uk
Speech by The Right Hon. The Lord Burnett of Maldon: The Age of Reform – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
‘Speech by The Right Hon. The Lord Burnett of Maldon: The Age of Reform.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 8th June 2018
Source: www.judiciary.uk
