MoJ considers £5,000 costs cap to protect defendants against SLAPPs – Legal Futures

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has suggested that people defending themselves from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) could be protected by a £5,000 costs cap.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Public uncomfortable with tech firms’ use of court data – Legal Futures

‘Less than a fifth (18%) of the public are comfortable with the use of data from the courts by tech companies, a major study has found.’

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Legal Futures, 21st July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminal courts face further disruption as barristers strike for fourth week – The Independent

‘Barristers have walked out for a fourth week as industrial action continues at courts around the country.’

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The Independent, 18th July 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Extra support for thousands navigating the legal system – Ministry of Justice

‘Thousands more vulnerable people will have help navigating civil and family legal issues thanks to increased government investment in legal support.’

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Ministry of Justice, 12th July 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Dea-John Reid killing: I got no justice at trial, says mother – BBC News

‘The mother of a black teenager fatally stabbed by a white boy says if the roles were reversed her son “would have gone down for murder”.’

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BBC News, 6th July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A Response to the Criminal Justice Joint Evidence Review: Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System action plan – Ministry of Justice

‘In December 2020, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice commissioned HM Inspectorate of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Probation, with support from HMICFRS, to undertake an independent review of neurodiversity in the criminal justice system (CJS).’

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Ministry of Justice, 30th June 2022

Parole hearings to be heard in public for the first time – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 1st, 2022 in Ministry of Justice, news, parole, victims by tracey

‘Victims, members of the public and the media will be able to ask for a parole hearing to be heard in public for the first time, following law changes being made today (30 June 2022).’

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Ministry of Justice, 30th June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

‘I wouldn’t have the money to pay a lawyer’: tenants left without means to sue rogue landlords – The Guardian

‘Poor and vulnerable tenants who are evicted from their homes or living in dangerous conditions will lose the chance to take their landlords to court when new government rules on legal costs come into force next year, experts are warning.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bill of Rights to strengthen freedom of speech and curb bogus human rights claims – Ministry of Justice

‘Freedom of speech and the views of elected lawmakers will be given greater weight in law under a Bill of Rights introduced to Parliament today (Wednesday 22 June).’

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Ministry of Justice, 22nd June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Criminal legal aid fees will increase ‘by end of September’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government has revealed that it hopes to lay secondary legislation shortly that would see criminal legal aid fees increase by the end of September.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th June 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New pilots to boost support for rape victims in court – Ministry of Justice

‘Rape victims will receive enhanced support at 3 Crown Courts under a new pilot scheme launched by the government today (16 June 2022) as part of efforts to drive up prosecutions and convictions.’

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Ministry of Justice, 16th June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Rape courts pilot in England dismissed as ‘gimmick’ amid low conviction rates – The Guardian

‘The announcement of three specialist courtrooms to prosecute rape cases has been dismissed as a “gimmick” that does not address the chronic underfunding of the justice system that led to a fall in convictions.’

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The Guardian, 16th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barristers to be balloted on possible walkouts in row over legal aid rates – The Guardian

‘Barristers are to be balloted this weekend on escalating industrial action over legal aid rates as figures reveal the number of crown court cases adjourned because of a shortage of lawyers has increased nearly fivefold over the decade.’

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The Guardian, 11th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government lost £98m amid failings with electronic tagging project – report – The Independent

‘The Government does not know if electronically tagging criminals is helping to cut reoffending because of failings with the system, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has warned.’

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The Independent, 8th June 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Millions invested to help people facing eviction or repossession – Ministry of Justice

‘More people will get access to free expert legal advice to give them the best chance of keeping their home when they fall into difficult financial times, backed by over £10 million of extra funding injected into housing legal aid every year.’

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Ministry of Justice, 31st May 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Joint Enterprise: Does Conviction By Association Pose A Risk To Human Rights? – Each Other

‘ “Joint enterprise” is a common law doctrine according to which an individual can be jointly convicted of the crime of another. It is a feature of law that has been misinterpreted for over 30 years. Now, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) may face legal action for breaching their duties under the Equality Act 2010 by failing to record data on joint enterprise prosecutions.’

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Each Other, 26th May 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Raab promises to put victims ‘firmly at heart of justice system’ – The Independent

Posted May 25th, 2022 in bills, criminal justice, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics, victims by sally

‘The Government has promised to put the “needs and voices” of victims “firmly at the heart of the justice system” with a series of legal reforms.’

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The Independent, 25th May 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Electronic signatures instead of witnesses for LPAs stay on the table – Legal Futures

‘The government has refused to rule out replacing the witnessing of lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) with electronic signatures despite widespread opposition in a consultation.’

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Legal Futures, 20th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MoJ denies new pilot scheme removes right to a trial – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 16th, 2022 in county courts, Ministry of Justice, news, pilot schemes, small claims, trials by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has denied it is removing litigants’ right to a trial – despite testing a new scheme where judges can resolve cases before a hearing without the consent of both parties.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 13th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The CJEU casts doubt on England’s new post-Brexit divorce jurisdiction law – Family Law

‘A recent decision of the CJEU has addressed the definition of habitual residence for divorce jurisdiction under Art 3 of BIIA. It confirms the interpretation hitherto held in England that a party can have only one habitual residence at one time. But it has also given a strong indication that habitual residence has to be continuous for the requisite period before the date of issuing of proceedings and not just on the date of issue. This has been a controversy in English case law over many years, with the majority of professional opinion allegedly being that habitual residence was only necessary on the date of issue and merely residence for the requisite preceding period. The Ministry of Justice relied on this interpretation in drafting England’s new post Brexit divorce jurisdictional law, on the basis of following EU law. Now, seemingly, that is not so. What will now be the position in England dealing with cases involving EU Member States? In any event what is the position with transitional cases?’

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Family Law, 12th May 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk