Category: judiciary

Nicholas Reed Langen: Is the Supreme Court more interventionist? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted October 19th, 2020 in constitutional law, judges, judiciary, news, parliament, Supreme Court by sally

‘The global outpouring of grief upon the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September showed how complete her transfer from justice of the Supreme Court to international icon was. Notorious enough to just be known by her initials, RBG was a judge celebrated in popular culture like no other. Hollywood A-lister Felicity Jones portrayed her in the Hollywood biopic, On the Basis of Sex, the antihero Deadpool considered drafting her for the X-Force, a team of superhero mutants, in Deadpool 2, and even Lego got in on the act, creating a mini-figure of her after the release of The Lego Movie 2.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 14th October 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Boris Johnson undermining courts to consolidate power, retired Supreme Court judge warns – The Independent

Posted October 7th, 2020 in constitutional law, courts, government departments, judges, judiciary, legal profession, news, parliament, rule of law, select committees by tracey

‘A former Supreme Court judge has accused Boris Johnson of trying to undermine the courts and legal system in a bid to solidify government power and push through his programme. Lord Sumption, who retired from the court in 2018, told at parliamentary select committee that the government was intent on “doing down the courts as potential sources of impediments for the government’s programme”.’

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The Independent, 6th October 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Supreme Court President Lord Reed wants more diversity in Supreme Court – BBC News

Posted October 5th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, government departments, judges, judicial review, judiciary, legal profession, news, race discrimination, racism, Supreme Court by tracey

‘The new Supreme Court president says he hopes a justice from an ethnic minority background will be appointed before his retirement in six years’ time. Lord Reed said the lack of diversity among the 12 Supreme Court justices was a situation “which cannot be allowed to become shameful if it persists”.’

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BBC News, 5th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Message from the Lord Chief Justice: Diversity of the judiciary – 2020 statistics – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

Posted September 18th, 2020 in diversity, equality, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, legal profession, press releases by tracey

‘I welcome publication of the Judicial Diversity Forum’s combined statistical report. It brings together data on the diversity of the judiciary, judicial appointments and from the relevant professional bodies (the Law Society, the Bar Council and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).’

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Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 17th September 2020

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Judicial diversity statistics show ‘significant disparity’ between solicitors and barristers – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 18th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, legal profession, news, solicitors, statistics by tracey

‘Solicitors are significantly less likely to be appointed judges than barristers even though more solicitors than barristers are applying for posts, according to a landmark diversity report published today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th September 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Do black lives matter in the employment justice system? – Garden Court Chambers

Posted September 14th, 2020 in barristers, chambers articles, diversity, employment, employment tribunals, equality, judiciary, legal profession, legal representation, news, race discrimination, racism by tracey

‘Paper produced by Mukhtiar Singh of the Garden Court Employment and Discrimination Law Team.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 14th September 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

EP 123: Judges and Lawyers: Enemies of the People? with Joshua Rozenberg – Law Pod UK

Posted September 3rd, 2020 in judiciary, legal profession, media, news, podcasts by sally

‘In Episode 123 Emma-Louise Fenelon talks to Joshua Rozenberg about his new book Enemies of the People? How Judges Shape Society and discusses attacks on judges and lawyers by the media and the government.’

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Law Pod UK, 1st September 2020

Source: audioboom.com

Against the law: why judges are under attack, by the Secret Barrister – The Guardian

Posted August 25th, 2020 in brexit, constitutional law, judicial review, judiciary, news, prerogative powers, prorogation by sally

‘Branded “enemies of the people” by the media and falsely accused of taking sides in Brexit by Conservative ministers, the judiciary is under threat – as is democracy.’

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The Guardian, 22nd August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Relationships with counsel and chambers – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 28th, 2020 in bias, judiciary, news, recusal by sally

‘It is of fundamental importance that judicial decisions should be made free from bias or partiality – it has long been recognised that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done (R v Sussex Justices, ex parte McCarthy [1924] 1 KB 256). A judge must, therefore, recuse themselves in circumstances of actual or apparent bias.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th July 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Role of UK judges in Hong Kong appeal court comes under scrutiny – The Guardian

Posted July 3rd, 2020 in appeals, China, colonies, foreign jurisdictions, Hong Kong, judiciary, news by sally

‘The role of British judges who sit on Hong Kong’s highest court has come under intensive scrutiny as the new, Beijing-enforced national security law transforms the former colony’s legal freedoms.’

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The Guardian, 2nd July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

How Judges Make their Decisions – is witness demeanour a myth? – Family Law Week

Posted July 2nd, 2020 in judiciary, juries, news, remote hearings, witnesses by tracey

‘Madeleine Whelan, barrister of Fourteen, considers how much weight judges might give to witnesses’ demeanour when evaluating their evidence in the light of a recent judgment by Mrs Justice Lieven.’

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Family Law Week, 29th June 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Solicitor claimant backtracks on request for male judge – Legal Futures

Posted June 23rd, 2020 in citizens advice bureaux, employment tribunals, judiciary, news, sex discrimination, solicitors, victimisation by sally

‘An employment tribunal has rejected claims of bias by a solicitor claimant who asked and then retracted a request to replace a female judge with a male one.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lewis Graham: Lessons from Lord Hope’s Diaries: judicial ideology and panel selection – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted June 18th, 2020 in judges, judiciary, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Even in a more transparent and open Supreme Court, glimpses behind the curtain of officialdom are seldom offered to the public. This is understandable; the independence and impartiality of the judiciary sets it apart from other branches of the state. As Lord Neuberger (The Power of Judges, p.22) has noted, to be effective, “justice has always to be detached, almost Olympian”. We may know of judges in their official capacity, but once they adopt their robes, personal accounts of their day-to-day lives generally remain off-limits.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 18th June 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

First hijab-wearing UK court judge hopes to be ‘trailblazer’ – BBC News

Posted May 28th, 2020 in diversity, equality, Islam, judges, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

‘A woman who is the first UK deputy district judge to wear a hijab said she hoped to be a “trailblazer”.’

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BBC News, 27th May 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

“Uphill battle” to engage judges in remote JR hearings – Litigation Futures

Posted May 12th, 2020 in judicial review, judiciary, news, remote hearings, telecommunications by sally

‘It is often impossible to sense how a judge is receiving submissions during remote judicial review hearings held during the Covid-19 lockdown, leading to confusion for advocates, a study has found.’

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Litigation Futures, 11th May 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Home Office accused of pressuring judiciary over immigration decisions – The Guardian

Posted May 7th, 2020 in bail, coronavirus, detention, immigration, judiciary, ministers' powers and duties, news, reasons by sally

‘The Home Office has been accused of interfering with the independence of the judiciary after it emerged that judges were asked to provide written explanations for a rise in the number of detainees released from immigration centres during the Covid-19 pandemic.’

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The Guardian, 6th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Publication and correction of judgments – official and unofficial sources – Transparency Project

Posted April 29th, 2020 in courts, internet, judgments, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news, tribunals by sally

‘Who is responsible for publishing the official approved version of judgments of the courts? Where should we look to find the latest, in some cases corrected, version of a court judgment? These are not new questions, but the sudden swerve to virtual justice has thrown them into new focus.’

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Transparency Project, 29th April 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Judiciary sets up working party to bring back jury trials – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 24th, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, health, health & safety, judiciary, juries, news, trials by sally

‘The prospect of jury trials restarting has come closer with news that the judiciary has set up a working party to consider how they can be brought back as soon as it is safe to do so. The news comes shortly after lord chancellor Robert Buckland said he wanted jury trials back up and running as quickly as possible.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th April 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Covid-19 testing extended to frontline court staff and judges – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 22nd, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, employment, health, health & safety, HM Courts Service, judiciary, news by sally

‘HM Courts & Tribunals Service says decisions on personal protective equipment are in line with official guidance following enquiries by the Gazette about what measures are being taken to protect staff at courts being kept open during the pandemic.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st April 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

EP 108: Renewed lockdown, new guidance: new episode – Dominic Ruck Keene & Darragh Coffey – Law Pod UK

Posted April 21st, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, human rights, judiciary, news by sally

‘Rosalind English talks to two barristers who happen to have served in the armed forces before going to the law, so they know something about emergencies and personal protective equipment. Dominic Ruck Keene and Darragh Coffey consider the probable attitude of the judiciary to any challenges regarding the government’s responsibility for preparedness, lockdown, and their their obligations under Articles 2 and 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as Article 11. How are we as a society, and the government, going to regard the question of “judicial activism” in this unprecedented situation in a post-pandemic UK?’

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Law Pod UK, 20th April 2020

Source: audioboom.com