Rape cases: why judicial training is needed – The Guardian
“Special training for rape case judges is needed to tackle preconceived ideas – and already it is starting to work.”
The Guardian, 31st January 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Category: judiciary
‘Tie-break’ system could bring more diversity among judges – Ken Clarke – The Guardian
“Progress in appointing women and members of ethnic minorities as judges has been far too slow and a ‘tie-break’ procedure favouring such candidates should be adopted, the justice secretary has told the House of Lords.”
The Guardian, 19th January 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Appointment of Reed and Carnwath judicious – even though both are male – The Guardian
“The promotion of Lord Justice Carnwath and Lord Reed to the supreme court is to be warmly welcomed, even though neither of them is a woman. The court will need a chancery specialist when Lord Walker retires. Sir Robert Carnwath served as a judge of the high court chancery division for eight years, the last three as chairman of the Law Commission. Though 66, he can remain a justice of the supreme court until he is 75.”
The Guardian, 20th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Two more male judges appointed to UK supreme court – The Guardian
“Two male judges have been appointed as justices of the UK’s supreme court, dashing campaigners’ hopes for an increase in the number of women on the country’s most senior bench.”
The Guardian, 20th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Lord Irvine: human rights law developed on false premise – The Guardian
“British courts have been slavishly following the jurisprudence of the European court of human rights and misinterpreting the Human Rights Act (HRA), according to the architect of the legislation.”
The Guardian, 14th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
More solicitors make the bench – Law Society’s Gazette
“Solicitors outperformed barristers in two selection exercises for the judiciary completed earlier this year, the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has revealed.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 8th December 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Top judge speaks! Are the judiciary becoming too outspoken? – UK Human Rights Blog
“A lot of headlines begin with “Top judge…” at the moment. Top Judge has variously attacked MPs who reveal injunctions, expressed fears over cameras in court, warned legal aid in family cases may disappear, protested over legal aid reforms, urged murder law reforms and said Britain can ignore Europe on human rights (he didn’t, but that’s another story).”
UK Human Rights Blog, 8th December 2011
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Give judges discretion in murder sentencing – The Guardian
“Mandatory life sentences erode the judiciary’s independence and fail to take account of the individual circumstances of a case.”
The Guardian, 7th December 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Transcript of the Lord Chief Justice’s Annual Press Conference 2011 – Judiciary of England and Wales
Transcript of the Lord Chief Justice’s Annual Press Conference 2011 (PDF)
Judiciary of England and Wales, 6th December 2011
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Judges warned against straying into politics – by top judge – Daily Telegraph
“Judges are straying too far in the world of politics and should stay within their ‘proper function’, the head of the judiciary, Lord Judge, has said.”
Daily Telegraph, 6th December 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Government hires extra judges to tackle welfare appeal backlog – Daily Telegraph
“Ministers have been forced to hire more than 80 new judges in a multi-million pound effort to address appeals by welfare claimants who dispute the loss of their benefits.”
Daily Telegraph, 28th November 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Bratza bites back – UK Human Rights Blog
“I had intended to entitle this post ‘Bratza goes ballistic’ which would, for reasons I will explain, have been unfair. However, as reported by guardian.co.uk, the new British president of the European Court of Human Rights has pushed back strongly against ‘vitriolic and – I am afraid to say, xenophobic – fury’ of the reaction to recent rulings by the UK government and press, which he says is ‘unprecedented in my experience, as someone who has been involved with the Convention system for over 40 years.'”
UK Human Rights Blog, 25th November 2011
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
First choice among equals – The Guardian
“It’s far from clear the government’s proposed new panel will succeed in appointing more women and BAME judges.”
The Guardian, 22nd November 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Clarke: Judiciary in need of modernisation and diversification – Ministry of Justice
“Sweeping new proposals that will reform, modernise and improve the diversity of judicial appointments were announced by the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, today.”
Ministry of Justice, 21st November 2011
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
More part-time judges would help diversify judiciary, says Ken Clarke – The Guardian
“More part-timers should be put on the bench and fewer judges allowed to chair selection panels in order to improve judicial diversity, the Ministry of Justice has proposed.”
The Guardian, 21st November 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
The strengths and skills of the Judiciary in the Magistrates’ Courts – Ministry of Justice
“This research assessed the strengths and skills of magistrates and District Judges to inform better deployment of the judiciary in magistrates’ courts.”
Ministry of Justice, 15th November 2011
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Are professional judges better than lay magistrates? – The Guardian
“A Ministry of Justice report suggests the difference is less than some imagine.”
The Guardian, 17th November 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Judges who jump to conclusions need ‘appraisals’ – Daily Telegraph
“Judges need to be given ‘appraisals’ to point out where they are talking too much or jumping to conclusions, one of Britain’s top law chiefs has said.”
Daily Telegraph, 16th November 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
District judges ‘more custody-minded’ than lay magistrates – Law Society’s Gazette
“Custodial sentences are more likely to be given in cases heard by a district judge than lay magistrates, according to research commissioned by the Ministry of Justice. The study, published this week and carried out by Ipsos MORI, shows that district judges gave custodial sentences in 7% of cases, while lay benches used custody in 4% of cases.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 16th November 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
UK courts following European human rights rulings too strictly, warn judges – The Guardian
“UK courts are following European court of human rights rulings too strictly and should adopt a more critical approach towards Strasbourg, according to Britain’s two most senior judges.”
The Guardian, 15th November 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
