Magistrates’ sentencing powers scaled back – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 13th, 2023 in Crown Court, delay, magistrates, Ministry of Justice, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Magistrates have had controversial powers that enabled them to sentence people for up to a year in prison taken away from them – but they could be restored, the government has said.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High Court ruling expected to widen scope of legal aid for parents – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The High Court’s decision in a challenge brought by a domestic abuse complainant against the Ministry of Justice will widen the scope of legal aid for parents who share caring arrangements, a public law campaign group has said.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK mother unlawfully denied legal aid in case against abusive ex, court rules – The Guardian

‘A decision to deny a single mother legal aid to enforce a child custody agreement against her abusive ex-partner was unlawful, the high court has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Edith Thompson: Commission to re-examine hanged woman’s case – BBC News

‘The case of a woman who was hanged 100 years ago for the murder of her husband is to be reviewed as a potential miscarriage of justice.’

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BBC News, 7th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Domestic abuse survivor takes UK justice ministry to court over legal aid – The Guardian

‘A single mother and domestic abuse survivor is taking the Ministry of Justice to court this week after being refused legal aid because she was deemed to have no dependents, even though she had applied for the funding to enforce a child custody arrangement.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judicial review applications in 2022 down more than a quarter on pre-Covid baseline of 2019: Ministry of Justice – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 7th, 2023 in coronavirus, judicial review, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by sally

‘There were 2,400 judicial review applications received in 2022, up 5% on 2021 (2,300) but down 28% on 2019 (from 3,400) as a pre-Covid19 baseline, the Ministry of Justice has revealed.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Experts “too quick to dismiss” public concern over use of court data – Legal Futures

Posted February 22nd, 2023 in civil justice, criminal justice, data protection, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘Senior government officials and lawtech specialists accept there is “meaningful” public concern about the use of data from the justice system, but often suggest the public does not “really understand the system”, a report has found.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd February 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Nightingale Courts to remain open to boost capacity and speed up justice – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 17th, 2023 in courts, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by tracey

‘Nightingale Courts across England and Wales are being kept open for another year to reduce waiting times and deliver swift justice for victims.’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th February 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Spiking: Low conviction rate is shocking, say victims – BBC News

‘A student who suspects she was a victim of spiking has said the low conviction rate is shocking but not surprising.’

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BBC News, 15th February 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother wins legal battle over tribunal’s refusal to say why son’s killer was discharged from hospital – The Guardian

‘A woman has won a legal battle against a mental health tribunal over its refusal to provide her with the the reasons for releasing her son’s killer into the community.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prisoner died after staff were ‘not properly trained to save lives’, coroner rules – The Independent

‘A prisoner died after staff when to provide adequate life support after he was found unresponsive in his bunk, a coroner has ruled.’

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The Independent, 22nd January 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

People born of rape now recognised in Victims’ Code in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted January 20th, 2023 in bills, children, families, Ministry of Justice, news, pregnancy, rape, sexual offences, victims by tracey

‘A woman conceived through rape, who has campaigned for a change in the law to recognise people like herself as victims, is celebrating after achieving her goal. The government has announced that the victims’ bill will extend the definition of a “victim” to include people who are born as a result of rape. It means England and Wales will be among the first in the world to officially confer victim status to children born of rape.’

Full press release

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The Guardian, 19th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ministry of Justice to launch call for evidence on open justice – Legal Futures

Posted January 17th, 2023 in courts, electronic filing, media, Ministry of Justice, news, remote hearings, tribunals by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is to launch a “wide-ranging” call for evidence on open justice, access to information and transparency across the courts and tribunals.’

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Legal Futures, 17th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Raab faces judicial review over criminal legal aid fees – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society has issued an ultimatum to lord chancellor Dominic Raab over criminal legal aid fees: increase them by the minimum amount recommended by the government-commissioned Bellamy review or face a judicial review.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

London to host major international meeting on war crimes – Ministry of Justice

‘Justice ministers from around the world will convene in London in March to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigating alleged war crimes in Ukraine.’

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Ministry of Justice, 7th January 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Civil legal aid review ‘to report in 2024’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 6th, 2023 in civil justice, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has finally set the ball rolling on its major review of the civil legal aid sector. However, the timetable suggests any measures to save the shrinking sector may not be implemented until late 2024 at the earliest, in the likely runup to the next general election.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 5th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Rape response overhaul delivers progress – Ministry of Justice

‘Victims are seeing significant improvements in the criminal justice system’s response to rape, a new report has revealed today.’

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Ministry of Justice, 15th December 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Prosecution crisis ‘will deepen’ without fee increase, CBA chief warns – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Ministry of Justice has hailed the “significant progress” that has been made since the government published its landmark rape review action plan – however, the Criminal Bar Association has warned that complainants will continue to wait years for a trial unless prosecutors’ fees are increased.’

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Law Society's Gazette,15th December 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MoJ backs lasting power of attorney bill – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 14th, 2022 in bills, internet, Ministry of Justice, news, powers of attorney by sally

‘The government has backed a private members bill that will allow lasting powers of attorney to be made completely online. The Lasting Power of Attorney Bill, which brings forward government proposals to modernise the process, completed its second reading last Friday.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th December 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Thousands of survivors to be protected from prison abusers – Ministry of Justice

‘Survivors will be better protected from domestic abusers who attempt to continue their campaign of terror from behind bars.’

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Ministry of Justice, 28th November 2022

Source: www.gov.uk