Lord Goldsmith told two different truths, says legal expert – The Observer

Posted February 8th, 2010 in attorney general, illegality, Iraq, news, war by sally

“Fresh questions have been raised about how Lord Goldsmith, the former attorney general, came to back the use of military force in Iraq after one of the UK’s leading legal experts highlighted apparent contradictions in his testimonies before two official inquiries.”

Full story

The Observer, 7th February 2010

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk

Prisoners ‘could sue’ if denied vote in general election – The Observer

Posted February 8th, 2010 in elections, news, prisons by sally

“Tens of thousands of prisoners could sue if they are not allowed to vote in this year’s general election, the government is being warned.The UK, one of the few countries in the world to impose a blanket ban on prisoners voting, must give those held behind bars the vote in order to comply with a European legal ruling, dating back six years. However, ministers have been procrastinating on the issue, fearing that it will prove unpopular with the electorate.”

Full story

The Observer, 7th February 2010

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk

Greater court protection for homeowners: consultation – Ministry of Justice

“A consultation on whether homeowners who have failed to repay consumer credit debts should have accrued a minimum level of debt before a court can order the sale of their home has been released today.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 5th February 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Three Labour MPs and one Tory peer face expenses abuse charges – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2010 in expenses, false accounting, news by sally

“Three Labour MPs and a Tory peer will face criminal charges over alleged abuses of their expenses, it was announced today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted February 5th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Supreme Court

HM Treasury v Ahmed & Ors [2010] UKSC 5 (04 February 2010)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Hancox & Anor v R. [2010] EWCA Crim 102 (04 February 2010)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Perinpanathan, R (on the application of) v City of Westminster Magistrates Court & Anor [2010] EWCA Civ 40 (04 February 2010)

The Port of London Authority v Ashmore [2010] EWCA Civ 30 (04 February 2010)

Republic of Argentina v NML Capital Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 41 (04 February 2010)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Griffin v Uhy Hacker Young & Partners (a firm) [2010] EWHC 146 (Ch) (04 February 2010)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Fidler v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2010] EWHC 143 (Admin) (03 February 2010)

Chester, R (on the application of) v The Governor of HMP Wakefield [2010] EWHC 63 (Admin) (22 January 2010)

Source: www.bailii.org

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted February 5th, 2010 in legislation by sally

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2010

The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provision) (Amendment) Order 2010

The Court Funds (Amendment) Rules 2010

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Regina v Iqbal – WLR Daily

Posted February 5th, 2010 in appeals, confiscation, law reports, time limits by sally

Regina v Iqbal [2010] WLR (D) 23

“An application for the time for proceedings for a confiscation order to be postponed, or for a postponement to be extended, may be made only during the permitted period provided for in s 14 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.”

WLR Daily, 4th February 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Regina v Barker (Steven) – Times Law Reports

Posted February 5th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Regina v Barker (Steven)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

“It was not necessarily appropriate for a defence advocate to conduct detailed crossexamination of a child witness at trial in respect of evidence purported to undermine that child’s credibility.”

The Times, 5th February 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Former judge hits out at ‘damaging’ penalties as he grants MPs’ expenses appeals – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2010 in appeals, expenses, news, parliament by sally

“Sir Paul Kennedy, the former judge ­dealing with MPs’ appeals against demands for repayments after the expenses ­scandal, was deeply critical of the ­’damaging and unfair’ penalties today as he granted the majority of the 75 appeals.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DPP due to announce MPs’ expenses charges decision – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2010 in expenses, false accounting, news by sally

“Prosecutors are due to reveal whether they intend to bring criminal charges against six MPs and peers over their expenses claims.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th February 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

PCC is ‘farcical’, says ex-director of public prosecutions – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2010 in media, news by sally

“A leading lawyer tonight called for independent regulation of the press, and for ‘all credible media organisations’ to withdraw from the ‘farcical’ Press ­Complaints Commission. Sir Ken Macdonald, ­visiting professor of law at the LSE and the former director of public prosecutions, told an audience of editors and lawyers: ‘The press may think the PCC works, but they are living in a dream world. Nobody else does.'”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Banks face scrutiny on money-laundering reports – The Times

Posted February 5th, 2010 in news by sally

“Bank customers who lose out when a transaction is delayed because of money-laundering suspicions have won the right to challenge banks’ decisions after a landmark $300 million court case.”

Full story

The Times, 4th February 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Couple jailed for multi-million prostitution ring – The Independent

Posted February 5th, 2010 in conspiracy, money laundering, news, prostitution, trafficking in human beings by sally

“A couple who ran a multi-million-pound prostitution ring of trafficked young women and girls were behind bars today.”

Full story

The Independent, 4th February 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lawyers want UK public inquiry into Iraq abuse – BBC News

Posted February 5th, 2010 in armed forces, inquiries, Iraq, news, war by sally

“A group of lawyers is attempting to secure a public inquiry into how UK forces treated detainees in Iraq.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th February 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sir Ken MacDonald: former DPP warns British libel laws suppressing free speech – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 5th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, privacy by sally

“British courts represent a serious threat to freedom of speech, suppressing the spread of information around the world, the former Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Ken MacDonald said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th February 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Channel 4 fails to win gagging order in libel battle over Michael Jackson film – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2010 in defamation, injunctions, media, news by sally

“Channel 4 tried and failed to win an injunction to prevent reporting of a hearing in a multimillion-pound libel battle in the high court in which the broadcaster has been accused of faking elements of a documentary purporting to show members of Michael Jackson’s family moving to Devon.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Discrimination law change is dropped after Pope’s opposition – The Independent

“The Government will not push through proposals that churches argue would restrict their ability to deny jobs to gay people and transsexuals, Equality Minister Harriet Harman confirmed today.”

Full story

The Independent, 4th February 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Measures to freeze assets of terror suspect to be lifted immediately – The Times

Posted February 4th, 2010 in news by sally

“Ministers are preparing to rush through emergency legislation tomorrow to stop terror suspects salting away their funds after senior judges today lifted an order freezing their assets.”

Full story

The Times, 4th February 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Overdose inquest finds German doctor Daniel Ubani incompetent – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2010 in doctors, inquests, murder, negligence, news by sally

“A patient who was given a fatal overdose by an out-of-hours doctor was unlawfully killed and his death amounted to gross negligence and manslaughter, a coroner ruled today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted February 4th, 2010 in legislation by sally

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010

The Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order 2010

The Criminal Defence Service (Representation Orders: Appeals etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) etc. Regulations 2010

The Employee Study and Training (Qualifying Period of Employment) Regulations 2010

The Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Ordinary Statutory Paternity Pay (Adoption), Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (Adoption) and Statutory Adoption Pay (Adoptions from Overseas) (Persons Abroad and Mariners) Regulations 2010

The Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (Persons Abroad and Mariners) Regulations 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (National Health Service Employees) Regulations 2010

The Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (Application of Parts 12ZA and 12ZB to Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations 2003 (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Additional Statutory Paternity Pay (Birth, Adoption and Adoptions from Overseas) (Administration) Regulations 2010

The Hill Farm Allowance Regulations 2010

The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2010

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk