‘A magistrate who “escalated out of all proportion” a minor incident has had her employment tribunal claims of discrimination, harassment and victimisation dismissed.’
Law Society's Gazette, 12th March 2025
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The High Court has handed down its judgment in Chief Constable of Humberside Police v Kelly Morgan [2024] EWHC 2859 (Admin). This is a significant human rights case which concerns whether the Crown Court has the power to suspend orders made by the lower court pending an ongoing appeal.The human rights arguments related to the closure order regime. Such orders are made by magistrates’ courts (pursuant to s.80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014). The High Court described the orders as “draconian” because closure orders can exclude people from their own home.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 10th March 2025
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘Where a local authority (Billing Authority) in England alleges that a person has failed to pay due and payable national non-domestic rates (‘Business Rates’), the Billing Authority may[1] apply by way of complaint (‘Complaint’) to the Magistrates Court (a justice of the peace), for a business rates liability order (‘BRLO’) against that person (the alleged ratepayer; for brevity – the ‘ratepayer’). Accompanying the application by way of Complaint, will be a request to the Magistrates Court, that the Magistrates Court do issue a summons, directed to the ratepayer, requiring the ratepayer to appear before the Magistrates Court, to ‘show why he has not paid the sum which is outstanding’ (reg.12(2) of the Non-Domestic Rating (Collection and Enforcement) (Local Lists) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/1058)). This short article will consider the issue of the summons, and the procedural requirements for a summons.’
33 Bedford Row, 6th February 2025
Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk
‘Ferko v Ealing Magistrates Court & Ors (2024) EWHC 2592 (Admin). This was an appeal by case stated to the High Court from a decision of Ealing Magistrates Court on a statutory nuisance/section 82 Environmental Protection Act 1990 prosecution. It is also a remarkable illustration of just how wrong the Magistrates can get such a prosecution, as well as being a helpful primer to constituent elements of an EPA prosecution case.’
Nearly Legal, 15th December 2024
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
‘Victims of crimes will see the perpetrators face justice more quickly under a once-in-a-generation review of criminal courts, the Lord Chancellor announced today (12 December).’
Ministry of Justice, 12th December 2024
Source: www.gov.uk
‘Sir Brian Leveson is to lead a “once in a generation” review of the courts system in England and Wales to deal with the spiralling backlog of cases.’
The Independent, 12th December 2024
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A magistrate who remarked on the “relentless rise in the acceptability of” absent fathers has been issued with formal advice.’
Law Society's Gazette, 2nd December 2024
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Magistrates who made a “clearly irrational” order for a gas engineer to pay £22,000 within 28 days were following a “standard practice” which was unlawful, the High Court has ruled.’
Law Society's Gazette, 6th November 2024
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Ministers will announce plans within days to give magistrates in England and Wales fresh powers to hand down longer custodial sentences to help reduce the backlog in crown courts and prisons, the Guardian understands.’
The Guardian, 17th October 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A magistrate who referred to her position on the bench when telling her neighbour their dog could be destroyed during a “heated dispute” has been issued with a formal warning for misusing her judicial status.’
Law Society's Gazette, 1st October 2024
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Magistrates’ courts conducting family justice are now part of the Family Court, established in 2014, and subject to the same rules as those presided over by district, circuit and High Court judges. Under those rules, accredited media reporters and ‘legal bloggers’ (see below) are entitled to attend hearings even if they take place in private, though they can’t report anything without the court’s permission.’
Transparency Project, 24th September 2024
Source: transparencyproject.org.uk
‘Magistrates in England and Wales could be given powers to hand down longer custodial sentences under proposals to help reduce the backlog in crown courts and prisons.’
BBC News, 16th September 2024
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A recent High Court case illustrates the breadth of the points which can be raised before the Magistrates if the defendant is not served with an enforcement notice, writes Roderick Morton.’
Local Government Lawyer, 14th June 2024
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘East Cambridgeshire District Council has successfully defended a driver’s appeal over the revocation of a private hire and hackney carriage licence.’
Local Government Lawyer, 14th June 2024
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Magistrates are regularly not following the law when jailing people awaiting trial, according to a report being published by legal thinktank Justice today.’
Law Society's Gazette, 9th November 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Magistrates are not following the law when sending thousands of people to jail on remand, exacerbating the prison overcrowding crisis in England, a report suggests.’
The Guardian, 9th November 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘This case found its way to the Court of Appeal by way of an appeal against sentence. Before considering that sentence, the Court had to resolve a question raised by the Registrar of Criminal Appeals about the lawfulness of the sentence passed in the Crown Court because of procedural errors at the first hearing in the magistrates’ court.’
Guildhall Chambers, 8th September 2023
Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk
‘This Guide is intended to assist judges, tribunal members, coroners and magistrates, in relation to their conduct.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 27th July 2023
Source: www.judiciary.uk
‘The High Court has ruled that magistrates and a legal adviser involved in decisions on the care of a murdered child, Finley Boden, can be named by the media.’
Local Government Lawyer, 27th July 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Three-quarters of magistrates courts in England and Wales are inadequately accessible for people with disabilities, with a lack of ramps, inaccessible toilets and non-functioning hearing loops all featuring as failings.’
The Guardian, 19th June 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
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