Judge ‘at wits’ end’ over secure unit shortages for young people – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2018 in detention, judges, news, racism, young persons by sally

‘A judge has said he is at his wit’s end over the inability to relocate a troubled boy who is “suffering the most appalling racial abuse” at a secure unit in Scotland to a safer setting closer to home.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Collapsed rape trials could hamper convictions, says Lord Judge – BBC News

Posted January 22nd, 2018 in evidence, judges, juries, news, rape, trials by sally

‘The collapse of a series of prominent rape trials could deter juries from convicting in genuine cases, a former lord chief justice has warned.’

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BBC News, 20th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Take blame out of personal injury law, Supreme Court judge says – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 22nd, 2018 in civil justice, compensation, judges, news, personal injuries, speeches by sally

‘”Ambulance chasing” lawyers are not to blame for compensation culture as it is the way the system is set up that encourages claims, a Supreme Court judge has suggested.’

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: Launch of the Business and Property Courts in Bristol – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted January 15th, 2018 in courts, judges, speeches by tracey

‘As many of you know I was Presiding Judge on the Western Circuit between 2011 and 2014 and so spent a good deal of time in this great city, including sitting on cases in this building. For that reason, it is a pleasure to be here this morning to launch the B & P courts in Bristol. Our laws and legal system have recently and very properly been described as ‘a vital national asset’. Our courts are central to that system. They contribute to our global influence and our national wealth. They secure that surest public good: the rule of law.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 12th January 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Chancellor of the High Court: Launch of the Business and Property Courts in Bristol – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted January 15th, 2018 in courts, judges, speeches by tracey

‘First, as we leave the European Union, it is incredibly important that judges and lawyers alike can demonstrate that English law and the courts of England & Wales will continue to offer world class dispute resolution services. We cannot achieve this if we continue to use unintelligible and incomprehensible names and titles. As I said in London at the first of the 5 launches that have already taken place, we need to reach out to the users of these courts and to national and international business generally, so as to ensure that they understand what we are offering in terms of business and commercial litigation here in England and Wales. We need to make sure that these business users can easily understand the services we offer.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 12th January 2018

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Gilham v Ministry of Justice: Court of Appeal Rules That Judges Are Not ‘Workers’ – Old Square Chambers

Posted January 9th, 2018 in appeals, employment, human rights, judges, judiciary, news, whistleblowers by sally

‘In this important recent judgment, the Court of Appeal unanimously held that judges are not “workers” within the meaning of section 230(3) of the Employment Rights Act 1996, and therefore are not entitled to protection from whistleblowing under the provisions of that Act. The Court of Appeal also held that the absence of a remedy for whistleblowing under the 1996 Act did not amount to a breach of a judge’s rights under Article 10 or Article 14 ECHR.’

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Old Square Chambers, 3rd January 2018

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk

Three judges sue Ministry of Justice for race discrimination – The Guardian

‘Three judges from black and Asian backgrounds are suing the Ministry of Justice for race discrimination and victimisation, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 19th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court criticises regional costs judge for second-guessing ATE insurer – Litigation Futures

Posted December 19th, 2017 in appeals, costs, insurance, judges, news by sally

‘A regional costs judge was “quite wrong” to assume that “his underwriting skill was better than that of the underwriter” and slashing an after-the-event insurance premium by 85%, the High Court has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 18th December 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Court security chaos: Judge slams ‘chronic failure’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 11th, 2017 in contracting out, HM Courts Service, judges, news, security companies by sally

‘A judge has publicly condemned HM Courts & Tribunals Service and an outsourced security company by lifting the lid on the ‘chronic’ and ‘lamentable’ situation at his court, as the spotlight continues to shine on security across the court estate.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th December 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

What Do Judges Do In The Family Court? – Gresham College

Posted December 11th, 2017 in family courts, judges, lectures, news by sally

‘What do judges do in the Family Court? Follow me through a virtual week as a Roving Judge. Learn what goes on behind the scenes: how the family court room works and who is needed to make it work.

A judge’s approach to a case can fundamentally affect the way the parties perceive the trial as fair. What makes for a good judge? What training do they have? Do they properly reflect society’s makeup? Is diversity left at the red baize door and kept outside the corridors of power?’

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Gresham College, 30th November 2017

Source: www.gresham.ac.uk

A new financial court for the super wealthy? – Transparency Project

Posted December 11th, 2017 in courts, divorce, financial dispute resolution, judges, news by sally

‘The Times and The Telegraph are reporting that new courts are being established to deal with the financial side of divorces for the wealthy.’

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Transparency Project, 8th December 2017

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

‘Liberties of England at risk’ without more money for lawyers, warns former appeal judge – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 6th, 2017 in criminal justice, judges, legal profession, news, reports by sally

‘Bach Commission vice-chair and former judge Sir Henry Brooke has demanded action to reverse assaults on the criminal justice system, claiming the ‘liberties of England are at risk’ because of cuts in funding.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 4th December 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judges to get counselling to help them cope with sex crime cases – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 6th, 2017 in courts, internet, judges, mental health, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘Judges are to get mental health help to deal with sex crime cases, the new Lord Chief Justice has announced, as he said we must recognise that “judges are human” too.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th December 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

President of the Family Division Circular: Financial remedies courts – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 5th, 2017 in family courts, financial provision, judges, press releases by tracey

‘The need for and the many benefits to be derived from the introduction of a national system of Financial Remedies Courts have been persuasively argued by HHJ Martin O’Dwyer, HHJ Edward Hess and Joanna Miles: Hess and Miles, The recognition of money work as a speciality in the family courts by the creation of a national network of Financial Remedies Units [2016] Fam Law 1335, and O’Dwyer, Hess and Miles, Financial Remedies Courts [2017] Fam Law 625. I have made clear my support for this: Note by the President [2016] Fam Law 1340, and 17th View from the President’s Chambers: divorce and money – where are we and where are we going? [2017] Fam Law 607.

Following discussions with HMCTS, I am proposing to pilot the Financial Remedies Court (FRC) concept in three places, starting, I hope, in February 2018: London, the West Midlands and South-East Wales. I envisage that further pilots will follow quite shortly on a rolling programme.’

Full press release

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 1st December 2017

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Media Litigation: a new approach – Transparency Project

Posted December 4th, 2017 in consultations, defamation, judges, media, news, privacy, statistics by sally

‘Earlier this year Mr Justice Warby was appointed to the newly created role of Judge in Charge of the Media and Communications List. We look at what this means in practice and how it will affect the future management of High Court media claims.’

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Transparency Project, 4th December 2017

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Smartphones hampering jury trials, appeal judge warns – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 29th, 2017 in internet, judges, juries, jury directions, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Smartphones and social media are causing headaches for judges, a Court of Appeal judge has warned in a speech highlighting current challenges faced in jury trials.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th November 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law Pod UK Ep 18: Do Judge Led Inquiries work? – 1 COR

Posted November 28th, 2017 in inquiries, judges, judiciary, news by sally

‘With ongoing public inquiries into tainted blood and historic child sexual abuse, Matt Hill and Gideon Barth discuss the effectiveness of judge led inquiries with Rosalind English.’

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Law Pod UK, 27th November 2017

Source: audioboom.com

UK judges to get scientific guides – BBC News

Posted November 22nd, 2017 in DNA, documents, evidence, judges, judiciary, news, statistics by sally

‘A UK Supreme Court judge has launched the first of a series of scientific guides for the judiciary.’

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BBC News, 22nd November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judges under ‘intolerable pressure’ from social media, says new Lord Chief Justice – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 22nd, 2017 in internet, judges, judiciary, news, rule of law by sally

‘Judges are being put under “intolerable pressure” by social media users who criticise their decisions, the Lord Chief Justice has said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st November 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Further education college wins court battle with vending company over fire – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 22nd, 2017 in damages, evidence, expert witnesses, fire, judges, local government, news, statutory duty by sally

‘A judge has held a vending machine company responsible for fire damage at a further education college after a complex dispute involving conflicting views among expert witnesses.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st November 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk