Proposals to close 30 magistrates’ courts ‘threaten justice’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 14th, 2009 in consultations, courts, news by sally

“The principle of local justice is being threatened under plans to close up to 30 courts to save money, magistrates have warned.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th October 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Legal aid review to ensure value – The Times

Posted October 14th, 2009 in news by sally

“The £2.1 billion legal aid scheme is to be reviewed by ministers to ensure best value for money in a move that could lead to a split in the budgets for criminal and civil legal aid.”

Full story

The Times, 13th October 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Abuse boyfriend jailed for murder – BBC News

Posted October 14th, 2009 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

“An abusive boyfriend who strangled his partner with a pair of her baby daughter’s tights, then slit her throat, has been jailed for life.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th October 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Top banker convicted of killing unfaithful wife – The Independent

Posted October 14th, 2009 in domestic violence, homicide, news by sally

“A City banker who killed his unfaithful wife during a violent row was today found guilty of manslaughter.”

Full story

The Independent, 13th October 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lawcast 155: The Guardian Gag affair with Carl Gardner – Charon QC

Posted October 14th, 2009 in freedom of expression, injunctions, internet, media, parliament, podcasts by sally

“Today I am talking to Carl Gardner, ex government lawyer, a barrister and author of The Head of Legal blog. We look at whether the Bill of Rights has, in fact, been infringed by the gag, the use of injunctions generally and specifically in this instance, the use of parliamentary privilege and whether the judges are going too far in granting injunctions which can, effectively, be destroyed in their effect by many thousands of angry people on twitter and in the blogosphere.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 13th October 2009

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

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

Dutch MP overturns UK entry ban – BBC News

Posted October 13th, 2009 in appeals, freedom of expression, immigration, Islam, news by sally

“Far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders has won an appeal against a Home Office decision barring his entry to the UK.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th October 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Reporting bans may lose their power in Twitter age says expert after Guardian ban is lifted – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 13th, 2009 in freedom of expression, injunctions, internet, news by sally

“The editor of a newspaper which was banned from reporting on the tabling of a question in Parliament has thanked the users of micro-blogging service Twitter for their role in what he called a ‘victory for free speech’.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 13th October 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 13th, 2009 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

AM (Kenya), R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2009] EWCA Civ 1009 (13 October 2009)

Autoclenz Ltd v Belcher & Ors [2009] EWCA Civ 1046 (13 October 2009)

Littlewood v Radford & Anor (Formerly T/a Boston Carrington Pritchard) [2009] EWCA Civ 1024 (13 October 2009)

High Court (Family Division)

ASB & Anor v MQS [2009] EWHC 2491 (Fam) (13 October 2009)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Soufflet Negoce v Bunge SA [2009] EWHC 2454 (Comm) (13 October 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

Review into delivery of legal aid – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 13th, 2009 in consultations, legal aid, news by sally

“The Ministry of Justice has announced a review into the delivery of legal aid.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 13th October 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Gag on Guardian reporting MP’s Trafigura question lifted – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2009 in freedom of expression, injunctions, media, news, parliament by sally

“The existence of a previously secret injunction against the media by oil traders Trafigura can now be revealed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Boy, 10, awarded £7.1m over medical negligence at birth – The Independent

Posted October 13th, 2009 in compensation, medical treatment, negligence, news by sally

“A 10-year-old boy with a ‘great zest for life’ was awarded a compensation package totalling £7.1m today over medical negligence at birth which left him with severe brain damage.”

Full story

The Independent, 13th October 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Changes to court services in England – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 13th, 2009 in consultations, courts, news by sally

“Consultations are being held on the closure of 21 underused and inadequate courts in several regions of England.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 13th October 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Definitive Sentencing Guidelines on Sentencing for Fraud – Statutory offences – Sentencing Guidelines Council

Posted October 13th, 2009 in fraud, news, sentencing by sally

“On 13 October 2009 the Sentencing Guidelines Council published its definitive guideline ‘Sentencing for fraud – Statutory offences’, which will apply to offenders who are sentenced on or after 26 October 2009.”

Full story

Sentencing Guidelines Council, 13th October 2009

Source: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk

Developments in Crown Court Advocacy – Speech by Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales

Posted October 13th, 2009 in advocacy, Crown Court, speeches by sally

Developments in Crown Court Advocacy (PDF)

Speech by Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales

The Kalisher Lecture 2009, 6th October 2009

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Johnson to get tough over Asbos – BBC News

Posted October 13th, 2009 in ASBOs, news, police by sally

“More trouble makers who break anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) will be tracked down and prosecuted, Home Secretary Alan Johnson is to pledge.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th October 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted October 13th, 2009 in legislation by sally

The Highway Litter Clearance and Cleaning (Transfer of Responsibility) (England) Order 2009

The Welfare Reform Act (Relevant Enactment) (Wales) Order 2009

The Social Security (Flexible New Deal) (No. 2) Regulations 2009

The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Amendment No.2) (England) Regulations 2009

The Pensions Act 2007 (Supplementary Provision) Order 2009

The Costs in Criminal Cases (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

The Social Security (Contributions Credits for Parents and Carers) Regulations 2009

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Children’s Homes etc) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 13th, 2009 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Rehman, R. v [2009] EWCA Crim 1944 (24 September 2009)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

MB, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2009] EWCA Civ 1031 (16 September 2009)

AK & FH (Kosovo) v Secretary of State for the Home Deparment [2009] EWCA Civ 1032 (09 September 2009)

Johnson Brothers (A Firm) v Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government [2009] EWCA Civ 1004 (03 September 2009)

MA (Turkey) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2009] EWCA Civ 1018 (03 September 2009)

Secretary of State for Defence v Lance Corporal (Now Corporal) Duncan & Anor [2009] EWCA Civ 1043 (12 October 2009)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Macdonald & Anor v Frost [2009] EWHC 2276 (Ch) (05 October 2009)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Wells, R (on the application of) v Parole Board [2009] EWHC 2458 (Admin) (22 September 2009)

Alcock, R (on the application of) v The Parole Board [2009] EWHC 2401 (Admin) (03 September 2009)

Matthews, R (on the application of) v HMP Swaleside [2009] EWHC 2397 (Admin) (05 October 2009)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Hitachi Capital (UK) Plc v V-12 Finance Ltd & Ors [2009] EWHC 2432 (Comm) (06 October 2009)

Source: www.bailii.org

Police face action over botched sex attack probes – The Independent

Posted October 13th, 2009 in news, police, sexual offences by sally

“Fourteen police officers could face prosecution over blunders during investigations into two serial sex attackers.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th October 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Regina (Friends of the Earth) v Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; Regina (Help the Aged) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Times Law Reports

Posted October 13th, 2009 in law reports by sally

Regina (Friends of the Earth) v Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; Regina (Help the Aged) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Court of Appeal

“It was not unlawful for government ministers to consider reasonable practicability, at least to some extent by reference to departmental budgets, when taking steps to implement specific targets, including eliminating fuel poverty.”

The Times, 13th October 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Cherney v Deripaska – Times Law Reports

Posted October 13th, 2009 in law reports by sally

Cherney v Deripaska

Court of Appeal

“An English court could exercise its discretion to take jurisdiction of a claim based on rights said to arise out of an English contract, even though those rights might be proprietary.”

The Times, 13th October 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk