Judges win bigger role in court funding talks – The Guardian

Posted January 23rd, 2008 in courts, judiciary, news by sally

“Britain’s most senior judge will have direct access to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ask for money for the court system under an unprecedented deal announced today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Policy review after judge forced to retire wins age bias case – The Guardian

Posted January 23rd, 2008 in age discrimination, judiciary, news, retirement by sally

“A part-time judge, forced to retire after reaching the age of 65, has won an unprecedented age discrimination claim against the lord chancellor, Jack Straw, and could get up to £200,000 compensation if the Ministry of Justice does not let him return to sit as recorder.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Reshuffle for top lawyers when supreme court opens – The Times

Posted January 14th, 2008 in courts, judiciary, news by sally

“Britain’s most senior judge is being tipped to take over as head of the first supreme court in what will trigger a major reshuffle of top judicial posts.”

Full story

The Times, 14th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

First progress report of the Standing Committee of the Judges’ Council – The Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted January 4th, 2008 in judiciary, reports by sally

“This is the first Progress Report to the Judges’ Council,  of the Standing Committee on Judicial Support and Welfare.”

Full report

The Judiciary of England and Wales, 4th January 2008

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk  

Judges hang on to their wigs – The Independent

Posted December 10th, 2007 in court dress, judiciary, news by sally

“Plans which would have forced judges in civil courts to ditch their wigs have been postponed.”

Full story

The Independent, 8th December 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judges to be given media training – BBC News

Posted December 6th, 2007 in judiciary, media, news, sentencing by sally

“Five senior judges are to be trained in how to handle the media so that they can explain controversial sentencing decisions, peers have been told.”

Full story

BBC News, 6th December 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gloves on for another bout with ministers – The Times

Posted December 4th, 2007 in judiciary, news by sally

“The Lord Chief Justice’s fight for judicial independence faces Parliamentary scrutiny.”

Full story

The Times, 4th December 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Judges’ details “posted on unencrypted discs” – The Times

Posted November 26th, 2007 in data protection, judiciary, news by sally

“An investigation into how personal information about the judiciary came to be sent by post began last night as further details emerged about lost discs containing taxpayers’ details.”

Full story

The Times, 26th November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Shake-up in appointing judges ‘risks standards’ – The Times

Posted November 20th, 2007 in judiciary, news by sally

“Britain’s most senior judge has expressed fears that reforms to the way judges are appointed risks politicising the judiciary and threatening standards.”

Full story

The Times, 20th November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Jack Straw won’t allow judges to return to the Bar – The Times

Posted November 6th, 2007 in judiciary, news by sally

“Jack Straw has ditched controversial reforms that would have allowed judges, including former Lord Chancellors, to go back to work as lawyers after a stint on the bench.”

Full story

The Times, 6th November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Return to legal practice – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 5th, 2007 in judiciary, press releases by sally

“The convention that former judges cannot return to practice as barristers or solicitors will remain, following a government consultation.”

Press release

Ministry of Justice, 5th November 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Judges face trial by MPs in plans for new method of selection – The Times

Posted October 26th, 2007 in constitutional reform, judiciary, news, parliament by sally

“Senior judges could be questioned by MPs under plans outlined by ministers yesterday to reform the way judges are chosen.”

Full story

The Times, 26th October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

The Governance of Britain: Judicial Appointments – Ministry of Justice

“This consultation seeks views on the arrangements for making judicial appointments, and in particular on whether the residual role of the executive in judicial appointments should be further reduced.  This consultation follows on from ‘The Governance of Britain’ green paper.”

Full story

The Ministry of Justice, 25th October 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Accountability of the Judiciary and guidance on the Judiciary appearing before select committees – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted October 19th, 2007 in judiciary, select committees by sally

“A paper on the accountability of the Judiciary and guidance to the Judiciary on appearing before select committees.”

Full paper

Judiciary of England and Wales, 18th October 2007

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Diversity in the Judiciary – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted October 19th, 2007 in equality, judiciary, lectures, minorities, women by sally

“Lecture by Mrs Justice Dobbs at Queen Mary, University of London.”

Full lecture (pdf)

Judiciary of England and Wales, 18th October 2007

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

High Court judge wants to bring in ethnic quotas – The Times

Posted October 18th, 2007 in judiciary, minorities, news by sally

“Britain’s only black High Court judge last night condemned the ‘woefully slow’ rate of progress over opening up the judiciary to non-white candidates.”

Full story

The Times, 18th October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Judicial shake-up will reduce red tape and delay, says Jack Straw – The Times

Posted October 11th, 2007 in judiciary, news by sally

“Jack Straw is to shake up the new system for appointing judges because of ‘concern at every level of the judiciary’ about delays and bureaucracy.”

Full story

The Times, 11th October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Hilton Mervis: A benchmark of healthy criticism – Legal Week

Posted October 4th, 2007 in judiciary, special report by sally

“The isolation of life on the bench and the lack of any form of frank feedback — good or bad — is well known. One solution to this state of affairs would be to allow the judiciary to get feedback from other sources than the press. Legal magazines have in the past been criticised for publishing feedback surveys on judges. The reaction of the judges themselves to these surveys has reportedly been mixed, ranging from fury to a genuine interest to learn from the feedback, however harsh.”

Full story

Legal Week, 4th October 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Should judges face appraisals? – The Times

Posted September 28th, 2007 in judiciary, news, quality assurance by sally

“Many professionals – including City law firm partners – now face performance assessments by their peers. Some judges think they should have them, too.”

Full story

The Times, 27th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lord Chief Justice fights Govt’s judiciary intrusion – The Lawyer

Posted September 19th, 2007 in judiciary, news by sally

“The Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips has called on the Government to stay away from the selection of judges in the wake of ‘The Governance of Britain’ green paper published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).”

Full story

The Lawyer, 17th September 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com