Pension changes deter would-be judges, says lord chief justice – The Guardian

Posted April 28th, 2016 in judiciary, news, pensions, select committees, taxation by tracey

‘George Osborne’s decision to impose a £10,000 tax-free cap on pension contributions is deterring well-paid lawyers from becoming judges, the lord chief justice has said.’

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The Guardian, 27th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judges to be filmed in English and Welsh crown courts – The Guardian

Posted April 26th, 2016 in courts, Crown Court, judiciary, news, pilot schemes, sentencing, video recordings, Wales by sally

‘Television cameras are to be allowed into crown courts in England and Wales for the first time under Ministry of Justice (MoJ) regulations that will be debated by parliament this week.’

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The Guardian, 25th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

“Boring” hearings or judges who interrupt? Neuberger knows what he likes – Legal Futures

‘The written advocacy of continental European lawyers makes for “boring” court proceedings, according to the President of the Supreme Court.’

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Legal Futures, 19th April 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judges and lawyers to receive scientific ‘primers’ – Litigation Futures

Posted April 15th, 2016 in DNA, forensic science, judiciary, legal education, news by tracey

‘The judiciary is teaming up with the UK’s leading academies of science to produce guides and training that aim to helps judges, lawyers and juries when handling scientific evidence in the courtroom.’

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Litigation Futures, 12th April 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

A judge’s sentence is not for entertainment – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 8th, 2016 in judiciary, media, news, public interest, reporting restrictions, sentencing by sally

‘Being appointed a judge is like going to school, one of our distinguished judges noted when he was first appointed. You have to sit in one place every day, all day. You have to listen to people addressing you, to take notes, and hand in your homework at the end.’

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Daily Telegraph, 7th April 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lord chief justice intervenes in case of judge suing MoJ for race discrimination – The Guardian

‘The lord chief justice has personally intervened in the case of a judge who is suing the government for racial discrimination.’

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The Guardian, 7th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar’s “tribal culture” a barrier to clients and diversity, says BSB report – Legal Futures

‘Barristers have a vital role in helping clients and witnesses understand the legal system but their own “distinct and tribal culture” is a barrier to doing so, a Bar Standards Board (BSB) report has found.’

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Legal Futures, 4th April 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Senior judges are hanging up their wigs. Replacing them won’t be cheap – The Guardian

‘The only branch of governance in which the public still has some faith is the judiciary – and it is facing a serious recruitment crisis.’

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The Guardian, 4th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Controversial online court will need careful piloting – CJC – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 30th, 2016 in civil justice, courts, electronic filing, internet, judiciary, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Influential advisory body the Civil Justice Council has urged a measured approach to the adoption of a new online court for civil cases.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 30th March 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Byron Karemba: The Investigatory Powers Bill: Introducing Judicial Authorisation of Surveillance Warrants in the United Kingdom – Putting the ‘Double-Lock’ in Focus (Part I) – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘When the Home Secretary commended the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in November 2015, she lauded the oversight mechanisms in the Bill as ‘world-leading.’ A seminal feature of this new regime is the creation of a single Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPCr) who is aided by a set of Judicial Commissioners (JCs) in exercising both ex ante and ex post facto oversight over the use of a range of surveillance measures. The IPCr will replace the existing fragmented (RIPA Part VI) framework of the Intelligence Services Commissioner, the Office of Surveillance Commissioner and the Interception of Communications Commissioner whom hitherto have (largely) conducted ex post facto oversight functions.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd March 2016

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Magistrate sacked for opposing same-sex adoption is suspended by NHS – The Guardian

‘A Christian magistrate who was sacked after voicing his opposition to adoption by same-sex parents has been suspended as a non-executive director by an NHS trust.’

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The Guardian, 27th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Family Justice and Race: the need for a fundamental review? – Family Law week

Posted March 24th, 2016 in civil justice, equality, families, judiciary, news, race discrimination by tracey

‘Rebekah Wilson, barrister, of Garden Court Chambers asks whether it is time for a review of the lack of racial diversity in the family justice system and of its consequences.’

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Family Law Week, 24th March 2016

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Judges feel undervalued, says retired court of appeal member – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2016 in judges, judiciary, news, remuneration by sally

‘Judges feel unappreciated, demoralised and resent cuts to their pay, according to a recently retired member of the court of appeal.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

British women cannot wait 50 years for justice – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2016 in equality, judiciary, legislation, news, quotas, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘Men’s domination of the senior echelons of the British judiciary means the law is biased against women. We urgently need gender quotas for women in senior legal roles.’

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The Guardian, 15th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Senior judges are ‘feeling unloved’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 15th, 2016 in judges, judiciary, legal profession, news by sally

‘Retired as a Court of Appeal judge warns the judiciary get little thanks for its work.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The snooper’s charter is flying through parliament. Don’t think it’s irrelevant to you – The Guardian

‘While the Apple v FBI row makes world headlines, people in the UK are disregarding a bill that permits hacking and gagging.’

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The Guardian, 14th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Senior judge voices concern over police investigation control – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 9th, 2016 in criminal justice, judiciary, news, police, time limits by tracey

‘Judges must “tread carefully” if they are granted powers to control the length of police investigations, the senior presiding judge for England and Wales has said in response to human rights organisation Justice’s report on complex and lengthy criminal trials.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th March 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

CA strikes down judge’s decision not to award 10% Simmons uplift – Litigation Futures

Posted March 4th, 2016 in appeals, costs, damages, judiciary, legal aid, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘A circuit judge was wrong to believe he had discretion not to apply the post-LASPO 10% uplift in damages, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 3rd March 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Judicial involvement in pre-proceedings for care cases to be piloted: top judge – Local Government Lawyer

‘Schemes for judicial and CAFCASS involvement in the pre-proceedings phase of some types of care case will be piloted in selected courts shortly, the President of the Family Division has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st March 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judiciary proposes fee ban and new name for McKenzie Friends – Legal Futures

‘England and Wales should follow the example of Scotland in banning McKenzie Friends from charging fees, the Judicial Executive Board (JEB) has proposed.’

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Legal Futures, 25th February 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk