Senior judge warns over ‘shaming’ impact of legal aid cuts – The Guardian

‘One of the most senior family court judges has warned about the impact of legal aid cuts and said it was “shaming” to preside over cases in which individuals are forced to represent themselves.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Solicitor General urges legal executives to seek judicial appointment – Legal Futures

Posted October 10th, 2017 in judicial appointments commission, judiciary, legal executives, news by sally

‘The Solicitor General has urged chartered legal executives to apply for judicial appointment in a bid to help make the bench more diverse.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 10th October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Brenda Hale sworn in as first female president of UK’s supreme court – The Guardian

Posted October 3rd, 2017 in diversity, judiciary, news, Supreme Court, women by sally

‘Brenda Hale, the first female president of the supreme court, and Sir Ian Burnett, the youngest lord chief justice for 50 years, have been sworn in at the opening of the legal year.’

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The Guardian, 2nd October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

McKenzie ban back to drawing board – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 18th, 2017 in codes of practice, consultations, fees, judiciary, Law Society, McKenzie friends, news by tracey

‘HM Judiciary is set to reassess some of its proposals for regulating the fast-expanding “McKenzie friend” sector after a consultation on banning fee recovery received “large numbers of responses”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th September 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘They funked it’ – LCJ’s dismay at inaction on older recorders – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 18th, 2017 in judges, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news, recruitment, retirement, select committees by tracey

‘The lord chief justice has urged the government to deal with the thorny issue of forcing retirement upon part-time recorders believed to be clogging up the judicial system.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th September 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council responds to Lammy Review – The Bar Council

Posted September 11th, 2017 in criminal justice, diversity, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, press releases, reports by tracey

‘Robin Allen QC, Chair of the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity and Social Mobility Committee, said today’s publication of the Lammy Review was a major contribution to the important and urgent task of securing a fair and equal criminal justice system.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 8th September 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

The Lord Chief Justice’s Report 2017 – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted September 7th, 2017 in civil justice, courts, criminal justice, judiciary, reports by tracey

‘The Lord Chief Justice has today laid his 2017 annual report before Parliament.’

Full report

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 7th September 2017

Source: www.judciary.gov.uk

Hale: Let opposition politicians help select top judges – Litigation Futures

‘Politicians from both opposition and government should be involved in appointing the most senior judges, Lady Hale has proposed.’

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Litigation Futures, 23rd August 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Britain could be subject to European Court rulings until 2027, it emerges – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 21st, 2017 in EC law, interpretation, judgments, judiciary, news, precedent by sally

‘Britain could be subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice for years after the UK leaves the European Union, it has emerged.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th August 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Why are judges worried about the ECJ’s post-Brexit role? – The Guardian

Posted August 9th, 2017 in brexit, EC law, interpretation, judiciary, news, precedent by sally

‘The country’s most senior judge has called for government guidance amid fears over legal precedents and the status of long-running cases.’

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The Guardian, 8th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Of course judges are worried about Brexit: their position is as clear as mud – The Guardian

Posted August 9th, 2017 in brexit, EC law, interpretation, judiciary, news by sally

‘The government must offer some clarity on the judiciary’s relationship to the ECJ – because the Brexit bill itself is ambiguous, and will lead to uncertainty all round.’

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The Guardian, 8th August 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Call for rethink on judges expressing opinions – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 31st, 2017 in criminal justice, judges, judiciary, magistrates, news, reports by sally

‘A former Court of Appeal judge has stoked the debate about judicial independence by suggesting that rules preventing judges from speaking about their role fuel media and public distrust of the criminal justice system.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 28th July 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Arguments over judicial bias should not be based on “feelings of client”, says incoming LCJ – Litigation Futures

Posted July 28th, 2017 in bias, judiciary, news by tracey

‘Arguments over “apparent bias” in judges should be based on the view of a “fair-minded and informed observer” and not the feelings of clients, Lord Justice Burnett has said.’

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Litigation Futures, 27th July 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Celebrate Lady Hale – then make the senior judiciary more diverse – The Guardian

Posted July 24th, 2017 in diversity, judges, judiciary, news, Supreme Court, women by sally

‘Brenda Hale’s appointment as president of the UK supreme court is a landmark. But the highest echelons of the legal profession still need change.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 23rd July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lady Hale appointed next President of Supreme Court, alongside three new Justices – Supreme Court

Posted July 21st, 2017 in diversity, judiciary, news, press releases, Supreme Court by tracey

‘Baroness Hale of Richmond will succeed Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury as President of the UK Supreme Court, it was announced today, alongside three additional appointments to the UK’s top appeal court.’

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Supreme Court, 21st July 2017

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

Judges “left uneasy” by professionals challenging regulators as litigants in person – Legal Futures

‘Judges are “left uneasy” by professionals presenting their own challenges to regulators as litigants in person (LIPs) and ignoring the “best points” available to them, the High Court has heard.’

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Legal futures, 21st July 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judicial diversity stats show barristers’ stranglehold increasing – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 21st, 2017 in diversity, judiciary, news, statistics by tracey

‘The senior judiciary has expressed anxiety about efforts to recruit solicitors to the bench after figures showed the proportions are going backwards.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th July 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Appointment of new Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted July 17th, 2017 in judges, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news, press releases by tracey

‘The Rt Hon Sir Ian Burnett has been appointed the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2 October 2017.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judicairy, 14th July 2017

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Bar Chair: Time to admit flexible court hours is a bad idea – The Bar Council

‘Two things are on a collision course. The first is Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service’s (HMTCS) plan that courts operate on a shift system – so called “Flexible Operating Hours”.The second is the determination of the legal profession and many within the judiciary to do whatever it takes to retain talented women at the Bar so that the senior Bar and the judiciary at all levels exhibit a stronger representation of women.’

Full Story

The Bar Council, 12th July 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Speech delivered by the Lord Chancellor at a HM Judges’ dinner at Mansion House – Crimeline

‘Speech delivered by the Lord Chancellor at a HM Judges’ dinner at Mansion House, 6th July 2017’

Full speech

Source: www.crimeline.info