MoJ plan to impose fixed-term contracts on judges “could be unlawful” – Legal Futures

Posted December 21st, 2016 in diversity, fees, fixed-term contracts, judges, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘Plans by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to impose fixed-term contracts on fee- paid judges could be unlawful, the Bar Council has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 21st December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New terms and conditions for judges will hinder diversity – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 20th, 2016 in consultations, diversity, judiciary, news, tribunals by tracey

‘Government proposals to increase the diversity of the judiciary and improve career prospects could be counter-productive, the Law Society warned today.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th December 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Give judges a role in legal regulation, Society suggests – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 20th, 2016 in judiciary, Law Society, Legal Services Board, news by sally

‘Giving the judiciary a role in appointments to the Legal Services Board could help protect the independence of the legal profession, the Law Society has suggested. Responding to the government’s call for opinions on the future existence and shape of the legal super-regulator, Chancery Lane warns of the international perception that the LSB is an arm of the state.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th December 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The right to disagree – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted December 14th, 2016 in freedom of expression, judiciary, news by sally

‘John F Kennedy said: “Liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain.” I don’t agree entirely. Learning is always valuable, but I do agree that liberty is at risk, or in peril, without learning. As individuals, citizens and as lawyers, we have a responsibility to ensure that there is an awareness of, and appreciation for, the justice system in the UK. It is not easy to value something that is not understood.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 13th December 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Profile: the 11 justices of the UK supreme court – The Guardian

Posted December 6th, 2016 in judges, judiciary, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The justices deciding on the appeal by the government against the high court’s ruling on article 50.’

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The Guardian, 5th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gina Miller: supreme court judges on Brexit case are being vilified – The Guardian

Posted December 5th, 2016 in judiciary, media, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The supreme court judges who will decide whether the government has the right to trigger article 50 without a parliamentary vote have been disgracefully vilified, according to the lead claimant in the case.’

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The Guardian, 4th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The judges protect us. It’s time to stand up for them – The Guardian

‘Brexiteers and their media allies have declared war on our judiciary. On behalf of the people, the supreme court must push back.’

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The Guardian, 5th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judicial Assessments: More New Clothes for the Emperor? By Daniel Northall – Littleton Chambers

Posted December 1st, 2016 in arbitration, case management, costs, employment tribunals, judiciary, news by sally

‘On 3 October 2016, the President of the Employment Tribunals, Judge Brian Doyle, issued presidential guidance on a newly introduced process of judicial assessment.’

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Littleton Chambers, 18th November 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Attacks on Brexit judges are bad for democracy, says former law lord – The Guardian

Posted November 29th, 2016 in brexit, EC law, freedom of expression, judges, judiciary, news, referendums, speeches by sally

‘Harsh personal attacks on judges are bad for democracy and in danger of diminishing the independence of the judiciary, the former deputy president of the supreme court has warned.’

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The Guardian, 28th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Speech by Lord Justice Gross: The Judicial Role Today – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted November 24th, 2016 in constitutional history, judges, judiciary, speeches by tracey

‘It is a great pleasure to have been invited to give this year’s Law and Society Lecture. Earlier this year, in another lecture, I addressed the topic of “Judicial Leadership”. My subject on this occasion is the judicial role today, exploring some of its boundaries’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 24th November 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Top judge urges tougher community service as alternative to prison – The Guardian

‘Fewer criminals should be jailed and tougher community punishments developed as an alternative to imprisonment, the lord chief justice has urged.’

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The Guardian, 22nd November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK’s top judge unveils plan to make supreme court more diverse – The Guardian

Posted November 22nd, 2016 in courts, diversity, judges, judiciary, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The UK’s most senior judge, Lord Neuberger, has announced he will retire next summer and signalled the launch of a judicial appointments process that could – through offering flexible working practices – improve diversity on the supreme court bench.’

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The Guardian, 21st November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Luke McDonagh: What Future for the Rule of Law and Human Rights in the New Populist Environment? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted November 21st, 2016 in human rights, judiciary, news, parliament, rule of law by sally

‘As has been stated by several commentators, in the aftermath of Miller v Secretary of State for Exiting the EU the attacks made on the judges in the media severely threaten the independence of the judiciary, and come close to outright intimidation. Chief among these critics is, of course, Nigel Farage, leading light of the UK Independence Party. The particular focus of his populist critique of the judiciary is worth taking seriously, as it indicates the challenges the rule of law may be facing in the years to come, as we adjust to the new post-Brexit, post-Trump, populist environment.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 18th November 2016

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Theresa May refuses to say she will defend judges from press attacks ahead of Brexit judgment

Posted November 17th, 2016 in appeals, brexit, EC law, judiciary, media, news, parliament, referendums, Supreme Court by sally

‘Theresa May has refused to say she will defend judges from attacks in the press ahead of a vital judgment on the legal details of of Brexit.’

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The Independent, 16th November 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Younger judges take government to court over pension cuts – The Guardian

Posted November 16th, 2016 in age discrimination, employment tribunals, judges, judiciary, news, pensions by sally

‘The government has demonstrated a “signal breach of faith” in cutting the pensions of recently appointed judges, an employment tribunal has been told.’

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The Guardian, 15th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Speech by The Chancellor of the High Court: A Look at the Future for Insolvency and Business Litigation in London – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted November 15th, 2016 in courts, insolvency, judges, judiciary, speeches by tracey

‘I am keen to speak tonight about the important work of the Rolls Building and the real value of the international reputation of our law and our judges in the post-Brexit world.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 10th November 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Liz Truss promises measures to diversify judiciary – The Guardian

Posted November 10th, 2016 in diversity, judiciary, lord chancellor, news, queen's counsel, women by sally

‘More women and minority ethnic lawyers will be helped to become judges, the first female lord chancellor, Liz Truss, has pledged.’

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The Guardian, 9th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords justice spokesman condemns ‘ill-informed’ attacks on judiciary – The Guardian

‘The Lords’ spokesperson for the ministry of justice has condemned “ill-informed” media attacks on judges, as political pressure mounts for Liz Truss to speak out more clearly in defence of judicial independence.’

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The Guardian, 8th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Liz Truss defends judiciary after Brexit ruling criticism – The Guardian

Posted November 7th, 2016 in brexit, EC law, judiciary, news, parliament, prerogative powers, referendums, treaties by sally

‘The lord chancellor, Liz Truss, has broken her silence on the high court’s Brexit ruling, saying the independence of the judiciary was the “foundation upon which our rule of law is built”.’

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The Guardian, 5th November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Nick Barber and Jeff King: Responding to Miller – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted November 7th, 2016 in EC law, judiciary, news, parliament, prerogative powers, referendums, treaties by sally

‘The most surprising thing about the decision in R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union is that so many people have found the decision surprising. The reasoning in the case – essentially, that the executive is unable to use the prerogative to remove statutory rights – rests on a clear line of case-law going back four hundred years, and turns on a foundational principle of constitutional law. It is unremarkable that three of the country’s leading judges – the Master of the Rolls, the Lord Chief Justice, and the leading public law judge in the Court of Appeal – were able to produce a unanimous, clear, judgment restating this orthodoxy. The only remarkable thing about the judgment is how such quality was produced under such extraordinary time and political pressure.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 7th November 2016

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org