Sun journalist Nick Parker cleared of misconduct – BBC News

‘A Sun reporter has been cleared of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office, but convicted of handling an MP’s stolen mobile phone.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

John McHale Tameside murder: David Platt given life sentence – BBC News

Posted December 9th, 2014 in arson, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man found guilty of murdering a fellow Tameside guest house resident before setting fire to his body has been jailed for life.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK judge praises students for helping overturn murder conviction – The Guardian

‘A judge has praised the “diligent” work of law students for helping overturn a former gang member’s murder conviction.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

HS2 campaigners lose Court of Appeal challenge – BBC News

Posted December 9th, 2014 in appeals, news, planning, railways by sally

‘Campaigners have lost their latest legal challenge to the first phase of the proposed HS2 high-speed rail line.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Daniel Pelka’s stepfather loses murder conviction appeal – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 9th, 2014 in appeals, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘Mariusz Krezolek loses Court of Appeal bid to challenge conviction for murdering stepson Daniel Pelka, as he and boy’s mother Magdelena Luczak fail to win sentence appeal.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted December 9th, 2014 in legislation by sally

SI 2014/3137 – The Broadcasting (Independent Productions) (Amendment) Order 2014

SI 2014/3125 – The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2014

SI 2014/3119 – The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Covert Human Intelligence Sources: Code of Practice) Order 2014

SI 2014/3099 – The Healthy Start Vitamins (Charging) Regulations 2014

SI 2014/3051 – The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (General) Regulations 2014

SI 2014/3140 – The Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Sensitive Words and Expressions) Regulations 2014
Continue reading…

EVENT: Queen Mary – Judge Paul Mahoney: ‘The Changing Face of the European Court of Human Rights’

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta as well as the 50th anniversary of the School of Law at Queen Mary University of London. To commemorate both of these milestones, the Human Rights Collegium will be hosting this special event. Judge Paul Mahoney, UK Judge on the European Court of Human Rights will speak about the changing face of the European Convention on Human Rights.

This event will be chaired by Professor Geraldine Van Bueren QC.

Lady Justice Arden will deliver the response.’

Date: 5th February 2015, 6.30pm

Location: Arts2 Lecture Theatre, Arts2 Building, School of Law, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.

EVENT: The Law Society – Recent Developments at the European Court of Human Rights

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘This session, led by Jessica Simor QC (Matrix) and Professor Philip Leach (Middlesex University/EHRAC) will discuss some key recent developments in the law and practice of the European Court of Human Rights, including jurisdictional issues and extra-territoriality and the Court’s approach to systemic human rights.’

CPD Hours 2

Date: 12th March 2015, 6.00-8.00pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

EVENT: LSE – Extradition and the Erosion of Human Rights

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘Since 9/11 the rules governing extradition from the UK to the US have been systematically relaxed, and safeguards designed to protect against injustice have been dismantled. British citizens are extradited on untested charges to face justice in US courts and prisons, but what standard of justice?’

Date: 28th January 2015, 6.30-8.00pm

Location: Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

EVENT: UCL – A post-European British Constitution: Plus ça change?

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘The United Kingdom’s constitution is fast approaching a fork in the road that separates two paths leading to different constitutional futures. The first path represents a continuation of our journey as part of the mainstream of European nations that are parties to the European Convention on Human Rights and members of the European Union. The second path represents the constitutional journey that would be undertaken if the UK were to withdraw from the ECHR or the EU.’

Date: 5th March 2015, 6.00-7.00pm

Location: UCL Laws, Bentham House, WC1H 0EG

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

CPS ‘right’ to pursue De Freitas case after rape allegation – BBC News

‘The UK’s top prosecutor has defended pursuing a woman who killed herself days before appearing in court accused of making a false rape allegation.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

EVENT: The Law Society – The European Court of Human Rights and international criminal law

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘In recent years, the European Court has addressed cases concerning genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as the application of the Geneva Conventions in the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights. The relevant cases will be examined.’

CPD hours 2

Date: 5th March 2015, 6.00-8.00pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

EVENT: UCL – On the Historicity of Financial Crime

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘The Origins of Modern Financial Crime: Historical foundations and current problems in Britain (Abingdon: Routledge, 2014) provides a multi-disciplinary analysis of ‘the problem’ of financial crime in the ‘commercial sphere’ in Britain. It reflects the longstanding view that the challenges presented by financial crime, which are both enforcement and perceptually oriented, as they are understood by academic scholars and also practitioners and regulators and policymakers, merit an analysis drawing on contributions from many academic disciplines. In drawing extensively on legal and criminological approaches, the text centrally also highlights the benefits which can emanate from historicising the ‘problem’ of financial crime. And in doing so this analysis of financial crime also constitutes an entreaty for encouraging legal scholarship to engage more comprehensively with historical enquiry and analysis.’

Date: 10th February 2015,

Location: UCL Laws, Bentham House, WC1H 0EG

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

Public access barrister named as ‘a risk’ to clients – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 9th, 2014 in barristers, complaints, disciplinary procedures, disclosure, legal ombudsman, news by sally

‘The Legal Ombudsman has taken the unprecedented step of naming a lawyer who has been subject to 25 complaints in the past two years.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th December 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

EVENT: LSE – After Snowden

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘What are the implications of surveillance, big data, malware and hacking for individuals and societies? What conversations do we need to have about the rules of cyberspace?’

Date: 20th January 2015, 6.30-8.00pm

Location: Old Theatre, Old Building

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

EVENT: The Law Society – The UK and the European Court of Human Rights

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘The UK’s troubled relationship with Strasbourg has taken a critical turn with the Conservative proposals to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights if its unilateral proposals to weaken the authority of the European Court of Human Rights are rejected by the Council of Europe. This session will explore the future of the UK-Strasbourg relationship in the light of the UK parties’ manifesto positions. It will also examine the wider reform process within the Council of Europe, which seeks to secure the future of the Court in the face of multiple institutional and political pressures.’

CPD hours 2

Date: 29th January 2015, 6.00-8.00pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

EVENT: The Law Society – Freedom of religion vs the right to be free from sexual orientation discrimination – clashing rights?

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘Is there a conflict between freedom of religion and the right to be free from sexual orientation discrimination or can these rights be reconciled? In Eweida and Others v UK, two of the applicants refused to work with same sex couples because they believed homosexuality was against God’s law. Should such objections be accommodated in the workplace? Both ECHR and EU case law will be discussed.’

CPD hours 2

Date: 19th February 2015, 6.00-8.00pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted December 9th, 2014 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Continue reading…

Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA)’s refusal of application for compensation arising out of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is endorsed by Court of Appeal : CP (A Child) v First Tier Tribunal (Criminal Injuries Compensation) – Zenith PI Blog

‘Yesterday the Court of Appeal gave a vote of confidence in CICA’s recent policy change on FASD inflicted injuries. The Court concluded that, as a foetus was not ‘any other person’ in the eyes of the criminal law, the mother’s damagingly excessive alcohol consumption was NOT an act of violence susceptible to compensation.

Full story

Zenith PI Blog, 9th December 2014

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

EVENT: The Law Society – Advocacy Section Networking Event – Do’s and Don’ts in the Court Room

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Forthcoming events by sally

‘Calling all Solicitor Advocates! Come and hear top dos and don’ts in the court room from the Judges themselves.

Want to know what Judges are really looking for in Court room? Come and hear those all important tips from our top Judges and have an opportunity to ask your burning questions.’

CPD hours 1.5

Date: 15th December 2014, 5.45-7.15pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.