Former member of Islamist group barred from becoming solicitor – The Guardian

“A former member of a radical Islamist group who was an Amnesty prisoner of conscience and who now works for an anti-extremist Muslim thinktank has been refused permission to train as a lawyer. The decision was attacked yesterday as ‘McCarthyite’ by a senior lawyer and human rights campaigner.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cherie Blair: A call to action on knife crime – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 7th, 2008 in gangs, news, offensive weapons by sally

“Cherie Blair QC, chair of the Street Weapons Commission, on the truth about gang violence and what can be done to bring it under control.”

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Daily Telegraph, 6th July 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Youth Justice Board’s future in doubt over failure to reduce crime – The Independent

Posted July 7th, 2008 in criminal justice, news, young offenders by sally

“The future of the Youth Justice Board, one of the central elements of Tony Blair’s penal policy, is in serious doubt as the Government rethinks its strategy on youth crime.”

Full story

The Independent, 6th July 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Top barristers battle over BAE Systems arms deal with Saudi Arabia – The Times

Posted July 7th, 2008 in barristers, bribery, corruption, news, Saudi Arabia by sally

“Two of Britain’s highest-paid and most sought after QCs will go head to head during the Serious Fraud Office’s appeal against a High Court ruling that it unlawfully halted its investigation into the BAE Systems arms deal with Saudi Arabia. ”

Full story

The Times, 7th July 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Podcast 64: With John Hirst – author of Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog and Podcast 65: The right of prisoners to vote with Carl Gardner – Charon QC

Posted July 7th, 2008 in elections, islamic law, podcasts, prisons by sally

“Today I am talking to John Hirst, author of the Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog. John has spent 35 of his 57 years in prison.

John was sent to prison for life after being convicted of the manslaughter of his landlady, in 1979. ‘He received a tariff of 15 years, but served a total of 25 before being released in October last year. He believes his activities as a litigant against the Prison Service and Home Office are the main reason he had to serve the extra years. John proved to be the most prolific prisoner litigant of modern times – and, he says, like Perry Mason and Rumpole of the Bailey, he never lost a case against the Prison Service.’ ”

Listen to Podcast 64: With John Hirst – author of Jailhouse Lawyer’s blog

“Today I am talking to Carl Gardner, author of the Head of Legal blog, barrister, former government lawyer and commentator on Human Rights Law, about the case of Hirst v United Kingdom No (2) heard at the ECHR in 2005.

Yesterday, I did a podcast with John Hirst, author of the Jailhouse Lawyer blog about his experience of prison life and during that conversation we talked about John’s case against the British government about the right of prisoners to vote – which he won.

Carl Gardner analyses the Hirst case and we talk about the practical implications of the judgment. We also talk about Lord Phillip’s attitude to Sharia Law and his support for Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.”

Listen to Podcast 65: The right of prisoners to vote with Carl Gardner

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.

Blogger wins right to free speech – The Guardian

Posted July 7th, 2008 in freedom of expression, internet, news by sally

“A blogger who faced charges of intimidation in cyberspace has won a legal judgment that anti-censorship campaigners claimed this weekend will protect freedom of expression across the worldwide web.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Technology to tackle prison drugs – BBC News

Posted July 7th, 2008 in drug abuse, news, prisons by sally

“A report is to be published into ways of preventing drugs being smuggled into prisons in England and Wales.”

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BBC News, 7th July 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BBC admits error in broadcasting fatal Jerusalem shooting on 10pm news – The Guardian

Posted July 7th, 2008 in complaints, media, news by sally

“The BBC has admitted it was wrong to broadcast during its 10pm news bulletin the graphic footage of a man being shot dead in Jerusalem.”

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The Guardian, 4th July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal fight ahead if badger cull rejected – Reuters

Posted July 4th, 2008 in animals, news by sally

“Farmers said on Friday they would launch a legal challenge if the farm ministry rejected as expected next week a badger cull to help tackle bovine tuberculosis in cattle.”

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Reuters, 4th July 2008

Source: www.reuters.com

‘Sex with Diana’ story in News of the World was false, claims Burrell – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2008 in defamation, news by sally

“Solicitors for Paul Burrell, the former butler to Princess Diana, have written a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission claiming a News of the World story alleging Burrell claimed he had sex with Princess Diana was untrue.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fans of Pringles lick lips over court ruling – Reuters

Posted July 4th, 2008 in food, news, VAT by sally

“Fans of Pringles are savouring a court ruling that the snack is not a potato crisp.”

Full story

Reuters, 4th July 2008

Source: www.reuters.com

Take part in an e-consultation into criminal justice spending – Youth Justice Board

Posted July 4th, 2008 in criminal justice, news, prisons, probation by sally

“The justice reinvestment inquiry has been set up to examine whether the resources currently given to the criminal justice system are being used effectively or whether there are alternative strategies which would give a better return for society than traditional methods of dealing with offenders.”

Full story

Youth Justice Board, 4th July 2008

Source: www.yjb.gov.uk

Human rights body condemns counter-terrorism bill – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2008 in detention, news, terrorism by sally

“Government plans to extend pre-charge detention for terror suspects to 42 days are ‘unnecessary, disproportionate and counter-productive’ and should be rejected when they come before the House of Lords next week, an international human rights group said today. ”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Linklaters follows rivals with record £1.29bn turnover – The Times

Posted July 4th, 2008 in law firms, news by sally

“Linklaters has followed its rivals in announcing a record turnover today, although it narrowly missed overtaking Clifford Chance as the world’s biggest firm. ”

Full story

The Times, 4th July 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Right to privacy versus the public’s right to know – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 4th, 2008 in freedom of information, privacy, special report by sally

“The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoI) continues to surprise and baffle public sector information managers and lawyers. Every month there are an average of 20 decisions made by the information ­ commissioner and eight by the Information Tribunal.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd July 2008

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Saying sorry – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 4th, 2008 in complaints, doctors, hospitals, special report by sally

“Lawyers and pressure groups alike know an apology can avert legal actions against the medical profession. So why is it still so hard to apologise?”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd July 2008

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted July 4th, 2008 in legislation by sally

The Armed Forces (Service Complaints) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2008

The Armed Forces (Alignment of Service Discipline Acts) Order 2008

The Maternity and Parental Leave etc. and the Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Cross-border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations 2008

The National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) and (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Amendment (No.2) Regulations 2008

The Armed Forces (Entry, Search and Seizure) (Amendment) Order 2008

The Courts-Martial (Amendment) Rules 2008

The Primary Ophthalmic Services Amendment, Transitional and Consequential Provisions Regulations 2008

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

The Estate Agents (Redress Scheme) Order 2008

The Estate Agents (Redress Scheme) (Penalty Charge) Regulations 2008

The Eggs and Chicks (England) Regulations 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted July 4th, 2008 in law reports by sally

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Ministry of Defence v Griffin [2008] EWHC 1542 (QB) (03 July 2008)

High Court (Administrative Court)

E v The Governing Body of JFS & Anor [2008] EWHC 1535 (Admin) (03 July 2008)

Obienna v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2008] EWHC 1476 (Admin) (27 June 2008)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Cherney v Deripaska [2008] EWHC 1530 (Comm) (03 July 2008)

General Trading Company (Holdings) Ltd v Richmond Corporation Ltd [2008] EWHC 1479 (Comm) (03 July 2008)

Colliers International Property Consultants (“Cipc”) & Anor v Colliers Jordan Lee Jafaar Sdn Bhd [2008] EWHC 1524 (Comm) (03 July 2008)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council v Currie & Brown Project Management Ltd & Anor [2008] EWHC 1508 (TCC) (16 June 2008)

Source: www.bailii.org

Equality before the Law – Speech by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers

Posted July 4th, 2008 in islamic law, religious discrimination, speeches by sally

Equality before the Law (PDF)

Speech by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers

East London Muslim Centre, 3rd July 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Jack Straw welcomes a year of constitutional progress – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 4th, 2008 in constitutional law, news by sally

“Justice Secretary Jack Straw today marked the one-year anniversary of the government’s constitutional change programme and said the progress made was a major step forward in renewing Britain’s democracy.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 3rd July 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk