Magistrate who won victimisation case sacked for misconduct – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 11th, 2010 in magistrates, news, professional conduct, race discrimination by sally

“A black magistrate who won a victimisation case against the Ministry of Justice has been sacked for misconduct.”

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Daily Telegraph, 9th January 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Call to lift ban on jury service for people with mental illness – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2010 in juries, mental health, news by sally

“Ministers are facing demands to scrap an ‘unfair and discriminatory’ law that bans thousands from being jurors because they have suffered from mental ill-health.”

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The Guardian, 10th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal costs emerge as defining issue of 2010’s biggest cases – The Lawyer

Posted January 11th, 2010 in civil justice, costs, legal aid, news by sally

“As the profession awaits Jackson LJ’s civil justice costs review, the cases set to shape this year’s litigation get underway.”

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The Lawyer, 10th January 2010

Source: www.thelawyer.com

News International admits payout to phone-hacker was for unfair dismissal – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2010 in compensation, interception, media, news, privacy, unfair dismissal by sally

“News International has admitted it was forced to hand former News of the World journalist and convicted phone-hacker Clive Goodman a generous payoff because it failed to follow statutory procedures.”

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The Guardian, 8th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Heathrow robbery trial breaks with 400-year tradition of trial by jury – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2010 in intimidation, juries, news, robbery, trial without jury by sally

“The first criminal trial without a jury to take place in England and Wales in more than 400 years begins on Tuesday after lawyers’ legal challenges were exhausted.”

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The Guardian, 10th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Innocent’ driver admits offence to avoid cost of court defence – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 11th, 2010 in costs, legal aid, news, road traffic offences by sally

“A company director has admitted a motoring offence he says he has not committed after becoming one of the first to be caught by controversial new rules on court costs.”

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Daily Telegraph, 9th January 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Human rights gagged MI5 over Abdulmutallab – The Times

Posted January 11th, 2010 in human rights, intelligence services, news, privacy, terrorism by sally

“MI5 failed to alert America to intelligence highlighting the extremist links of the Detroit plane bomber because of concerns about breaching his human rights and privacy.”

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The Times, 10th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Sex offenders ‘granted taxi licences’ – The Independent

Posted January 11th, 2010 in criminal records, news, taxis by sally

“Criminals with convictions for offences including indecent assault and drug dealing are knowingly being granted taxi driver licences, an investigation claimed today.”

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The Independent, 11th January 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Parking fine appeal panel planned – BBC News

Posted January 11th, 2010 in appeals, fines, news, parking by sally

“A new independent appeals panel to stop motorists from being unfairly fined by unscrupulous private car parking companies is to be established.”

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BBC News, 10th January 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law Society challenges move to charge acquitted defendants fees – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2010 in fees, Law Society, legal aid, news by sally

“People accused of crimes will begin paying legal fees at five crown courts in England and Wales tomorrow , as the government faces increasing criticism over measures that will see some innocent people footing part of the bill for their defence.”

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The Guardian, 10th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Reprieve for ‘hero’ father over Child Support Agency demand – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 11th, 2010 in child support, duty of care, news by sally

“The Child Support Agency has issued a reprieve to a ‘hero’ father whose daughter was threatening legal action over its treatment of him.”

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Daily Telegraph, 10th January 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Overseas online gambling groups will need licence – The Times

Posted January 8th, 2010 in news by sally

“Overseas online gambling companies that target British punters will require a licence under proposals outlined yesterday by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).”

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The Times, 8th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Miller-Smith v Miller-Smith – Times Law Reports

Posted January 8th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Miller-Smith v Miller-Smith

Court of Appeal

“On an application by a separated spouse to order a sale of the matrimonial home in advance of any divorce decree, the court should ask itself whether the issue raised by the application could reasonably be left to be resolved within an application for ancillary relief following divorce.”

The Times, 8th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Regina v Reed and Reed; Regina v Garmson – Times Law Reports

Posted January 8th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Regina v Reed and Reed; Regina v Garmson

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

“Evidence from a forensic science officer with scenes of crime experience was admissible to give possible explanations for the presence of DNA where it had been found and to evaluate those possibilities.”

The Times, 8th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted January 8th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Crown Prosecution Service v C & Ors [2009] EWCA Crim 2614 (11 December 2009)

Loftus & Anor, R. v [2009] EWCA Crim 2688 (09 December 2009)

Despaigne-Pellon, R. v [2009] EWCA Crim 2580 (20 November 2009)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Murray Vernon Holdings Ltd v Hassall & Ors [2010] EWHC 7 (Ch) (07 January 2010)

Shaw & Anor v MFP Foundations & Piling Ltd [2010] EWHC 9 (Ch) (06 January 2010)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

British Telecommunications Plc v Royal Mail Group Ltd [2010] EWHC 8 (QB) (07 January 2010)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted January 8th, 2010 in legislation by sally

The Asylum (Designated States) Order 2010

The Electronic Commerce Directive (Hatred against Persons on Religious Grounds or the Grounds of Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2010

The Special Annual Allowance Charge (Variation of Rate) Order 2010

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Watchdog launches consultation on MPs’ expenses – The Guardian

Posted January 8th, 2010 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“A five-week public consultation on the reform of MPs’ expenses was launched today as the new parliamentary expenses watchdog appeared to soften proposals on MPs claiming for second homes and employing family members.”

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The Guardian, 7th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Why Nominet disconnected more than 1,000 sites with no court oversight – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 8th, 2010 in computer crime, internet, news by sally

“The body responsible for the .uk internet addresses disconnected over 1,200 websites without any oversight from a court. The much-publicised action last month was based only on police assertions about criminal activity on the sites.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th January 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Law reformed on leaving property in trust for future generations – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 8th, 2010 in news, perpetuities, trusts by sally

“Leaving property in trust for future generations will be modernised and simplified by the Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 2009.”

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Ministry of Justice, 7th January 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Case of ‘Heathrow four’ to be challenged as lone judge prepares for historic trial – The Times

Posted January 8th, 2010 in news by sally

“Defence lawyers are preparing to challenge the first criminal trial in England and Wales for 400 years to go ahead without a jury. The case is expected to be heard next week.”

Full story

The Times, 8th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk