Judges overturn practice of double conviction for aggravated offences – The Guardian

‘A long-established legal practice of imposing double convictions for racially or religiously aggravated offences has been overturned by a high court ruling that could influence national crime statistics.’

Full story

The Guardian, 20th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ethics on the bench and in the witness box: The Round-up – UK Human Rights Blog

‘A highly experienced magistrate – Richard Page – has been sacked for airing views opposing same-sex couples being allowed to adopt.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 16th March 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Magistrate who opposed gay couples adopting to sue Michael Gove – The Guardian

‘A Christian magistrate who was sacked after opposing adoption by gay parents on national television is planning to sue Michael Gove over the decision.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Christian judge struck off after controversial same-sex adoption comments – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 11th, 2016 in adoption, disciplinary procedures, homosexuality, magistrates, news by tracey

‘A Christian judge has been struck off after making controversial comments over same-sex adoption on national television.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th March 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

CPS inspectors call for ‘culture change’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 23rd, 2016 in Crown Prosecution Service, defence, delay, magistrates, news, reports by sally

‘CPS lawyers have been criticised for failing to engage effectively with defence practitioners amid efforts to reduce delays in magistrates’ courts.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd February 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

100 judges and magistrates received death threats over cases in past five years – The Guardian

Posted February 2nd, 2016 in courts, harassment, intimidation, judges, judiciary, magistrates, news, offensive weapons by sally

‘A hundred judges and magistrates have received written threats connected to cases they presided over during the past five years, the Ministry of Justice has revealed.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Barristers who work for free could be breaching referral fee ban, Bar Council warns – Legal Futures

Posted January 7th, 2016 in barristers, fees, law firms, magistrates, news, pro bono work, professional conduct by sally

‘Criminal barristers who agree to work for law firms “for no fee” could be breaching the referral fee ban, the Bar Council has warned.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 7th January 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Abolition of the Criminal Courts Charge: a welcome move – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted December 21st, 2015 in criminal courts charge, magistrates, news by sally

‘Why has the government decided to abolish the Criminal Courts Charge? Shula de Jersey, Principal Lawyer at Slater and Gordon (UK) LLP, explores the controversial measure and explains the events that led to its abolition.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th December 2015

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

DPP faces criticism from MPs for failing to see the “shambles” at magistrates courts – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 16th, 2015 in courts, Crown Prosecution Service, magistrates, news by sally

‘Alison Saunders told she is “living in a bubble” after saying she went to see cases in action only every few months.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

More cases to be heard by magistrates – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Criminal cases should be sent to the Crown court only if they are “clearly unsuitable” for trial in the magistrates’ court, the Sentencing Council says in fresh guidance to ensure cases are tried and sentenced in the appropriate court.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 10th December 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Criminal courts charge to be scrapped by government – BBC News

Posted December 3rd, 2015 in courts, criminal courts charge, criminal justice, magistrates, news by tracey

‘The criminal courts charge is to be scrapped, Justice Secretary Michael Gove has announced.’

Full story

BBC News, 3rd December 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Let magistrates deal with more assault cases, says law reform body – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2015 in assault, courts, Law Commission, legislation, magistrates, news, reports, violence by sally

‘Magistrates courts should be empowered to deal with thousands more assault charges every year rather than sending too many cases for expensive trial in the crown court, the Law Commission has said.’

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd November 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal courts charge denied compensation to rape victim, MPs told – The Independent

‘A rape victim did not get compensation from her attacker because of the Government’s controversial new court charge, MPs have been told.’

Full story

The Independent, 27th October 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Criminal court charge punishes poorest the most, says magistrate who quit in protest – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2015 in criminal courts charge, criminal justice, guilty pleas, magistrates, news by sally

‘A magistrate who resigned in disgust at criminal courts charges being imposed on defendants who plead or are found guilty has told the Guardian the fine “disproportionately punishes the poorest in our community”.’

Full story

The Guardian, 16th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal Courts Charge and the magistrates’ revolt – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘Any person over the age of 18 who is convicted of a criminal offence after 15 April 2015 will find that they have to pay “relevant court costs” (or criminal courts charge) in addition to a number of other payments.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 14th October 2015

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Punitive court fines ‘undermine respect for the law’ – The Guardian

‘The imposition of mandatory, punitive fines in English and Welsh criminal courts has undermined respect for the law and introduced US-style plea bargaining that results in false convictions, an influential legal thinktank has warned.’

Full story

The Guardian, 30th September 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Magistrate quits after being suspended for paying a penniless asylum seeker’s fine out of his own pocket – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 29th, 2015 in fines, judges, magistrates, news, professional conduct by sally

‘Nigel Allcoat said he had performed a humanitarian act in order to prevent reoffending and that his treatment ‘beggared belief’.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 29th September 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Magistrates’ warning as court delays create ‘postcode lottery’ – BBC News

Posted September 7th, 2015 in budgets, courts, delay, magistrates, news, statistics, victims, witnesses by sally

‘Magistrates have warned the criminal justice system is “on the cusp” of breaking down amid growing delays, court closures and funding cuts.’

Full story

BBC News, 7th September 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Liability of magistrates, coroners and quasi-judicial bodies for costs – Park Square Barristers

Posted September 4th, 2015 in commons, coroners, costs, land registration, magistrates, news, tribunals by sally

‘“Litigation is a hazardous and expensive business.”

Thus began the skeleton argument of my opponent in the Paddico case which I refer to below. He was (and remains) a leading counsel with a high reputation in the field of property work and he was, of course, correct.’

Full story

Park Square Barristers, 11th August 2015

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

“New law” is neither new nor law… – Park Square Barristers

Posted September 4th, 2015 in magistrates, news, prosecutions, road traffic offences by sally

‘In recent weeks Leeds Magistrates Court has found itself in the grip of a media frenzy for the dubious honour of hearing the “first ever prosecution” under the “new Law”’ for so called “middle-lane hogging”.’

Full story

Park Square Barristers, 19th August 2015

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk