MPs who use parliamentary privilege to break court orders undermine the judiciary, says Lord Chief Justice – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 11th, 2018 in injunctions, judges, judiciary, news, parliament, parliamentary privilege by tracey

‘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.’

Full Story

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

Posted August 30th, 2018 in children, judges, media, medical treatment, news by sally

‘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.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge in Uber’s London legal battle steps aside over husband’s links to firm – The Guardian

Posted August 20th, 2018 in conflict of interest, judges, licensing, news, recusal, taxis by sally

‘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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Final Presidential words on transparency – Transparency Project

Posted August 7th, 2018 in family courts, judges, news, private hearings, reporting restrictions by sally

‘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.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 6th August 2018

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Judge calls for investigation into colleagues over race discrimination case – The Guardian

Posted August 7th, 2018 in judges, judiciary, news, race discrimination, racism by sally

‘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.’

Full Story

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

Posted July 31st, 2018 in appeals, cross-examination, judges, litigants in person, news, rape, witnesses by sally

‘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.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 30th July 2018

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

The rise of private FDRs – Family Law

Posted July 31st, 2018 in arbitration, dispute resolution, families, financial provision, judges, news by sally

‘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’.’

Full Story

Family Law, 30th July 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

A tribute to Sir James Munby – the people’s president – Family Law

Posted July 30th, 2018 in family courts, judges, news by sally

‘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.’

Full Story

Family Law, 27th July 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Lady Hale breaks from tradition with smiling Gray’s Inn portrait – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 27th, 2018 in artistic works, judges, news by sally

‘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.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 26th July 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lady Hale at the Royal College of Psychiatrists Annual Conference, Birmingham – Supreme Court

Posted July 5th, 2018 in bills, disabled persons, human rights, judges, mental health, speeches, treaties by tracey

‘Lady Hale at the Royal College of Psychiatrists Annual Conference, Birmingham. Is it time for yet another Mental Health Act?’

Full speech

Supreme Court, 24th June 2018

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

Supreme Court and Court of Appeal replenish ranks with string of new appointments – Litigation Futures

Posted July 2nd, 2018 in judges, judiciary, news, Supreme Court, women by sally

‘Ten senior judicial appointments were announced yesterday, with Lady Justice Arden becoming the third woman to sit on the Supreme Court.’

Full Story

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

Posted June 26th, 2018 in families, family courts, judges, news, parental rights, speeches by sally

‘Fathers are being cut off from their children because the courts have “fallen short”, the incoming head of the family court has said.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 25th June 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

A very English scandal – New Law Journal

Posted June 25th, 2018 in bias, conspiracy, judges, murder, news, trials, witnesses by sally

‘Alec Samuels shares his reflections on the legal significance of the Jeremy Thorpe case.’

Full Story

New Law Journal, 21st June 2018

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Speech by Lord Justice McFarlane: Care Crisis Review Launch – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted June 14th, 2018 in care orders, family courts, judges, reports, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by Lord Justice McFarlane: Care Crisis Review Launch.’

Full speech

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

Posted June 14th, 2018 in computer programs, courts, internet, judges, speeches, tribunals by tracey

‘Speech by The Right Hon. The Lord Burnett of Maldon: The Age of Reform.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 8th June 2018

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Chambers with non-barrister head adds to firsts after electing top US judge as door tenant – Litigation Futures

Posted June 11th, 2018 in barristers, judges, news by sally

‘A former US justice of the Delaware Supreme Court has been elected a door tenant at 3 Hare Court in what is said to be the first move of its kind.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 11th June 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

We should applaud the end of the nuclear family, says top judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 4th, 2018 in families, judges, news by sally

‘Britain should “welcome and applaud” the collapse of the nuclear family, the most senior family judge in England and Wales has said.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 1st June 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

No point complaining about a barrister’s conduct to head of chambers or BSB, says judge – Legal Futures

Posted June 1st, 2018 in barristers, bias, complaints, judges, news by sally

‘Complaining about a barrister’s conduct in a written ruling is usually a better way of a judge highlighting concerns than contacting their head of chambers or regulator, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has said.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 1st June 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Erika Rackley and Rosemary Hunter: Judicial Leadership, Lady Hale and the UK Supreme Court – UL

Posted May 31st, 2018 in judges, judiciary, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘It has been a busy nine months since Lady Hale assumed formal leadership of the UK Supreme Court. During this time she has sworn-in three new colleagues, lead the court on a historic sitting in Northern Ireland, delivered or contributed to judgments in relation to police investigations of violent crime, cohabitee’s pension rights, the treatment of Alfie Evans and smoking bans, spoken to university students, school pupils and west London law clinic volunteers, travelled overseas, delivered speeches on marriage reform, legal aid, religious dress, and the upcoming anniversary of women’s entry into the legal profession, overseen a senior appointments round, and – of course – made an appearance on BBC’s Masterchef.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 30th May 2018

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org