Anti-gang efforts hampered by legal confusion, warn MPs – The Guardian

“Efforts to tackle gang-related violence are being hampered by confusion over the complex law on joint enterprise, which could deter witnesses from coming forward, according to a report by the Commons justice select committee.”

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The Guardian, 17th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid cuts will put domestic violence victims at risk, report warns – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2012 in bills, budgets, domestic violence, legal aid, news by sally

“Many victims of domestic violence will be unable to obtain legal help in future to help them escape from abusive relationships, according to a report by women’s groups.”

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The Guardian, 18th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man fined for refusing census over Lockheed Martin link – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2012 in census, fines, news by sally

“A devout Christian has been fined for refusing to complete last year’s census form because of its links with a defence contractor.”

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The Guardian, 17th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Cold case’ rapist jailed – The Independent

Posted January 18th, 2012 in DNA, news, rape, sentencing by sally

“An unlicensed cab driver was jailed for five years at the Old Bailey today for raping a passenger nearly 17 years ago.”

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The Independent, 17th January 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The case for cutting juries is utterly flawed – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2012 in budgets, juries, news, trials by sally

“Restricting trial by jury will save little money and is fundamentally misguided.”

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The Guardian, 17th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bashing trial by jury is pathetically predictable – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2012 in budgets, juries, news, trials by sally

“Governments needing a facelift often attempt to curtail jury trial. Quick-fix supermarket justice must be resisted.”

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The Guardian, 17th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Supreme Court hears solicitor’s age claim – The Lawyer

Posted January 18th, 2012 in age discrimination, appeals, news, retirement, solicitors, Supreme Court by sally

“The Supreme Court has convened five of the country’s most senior judges to hear a landmark case over the social justifications that can be used to justify retiring a partner.”

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The Lawyer, 17th January 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Big Issue seller wins right to claim housing benefit – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2012 in benefits, housing, local government, news, self-employment by sally

“A Big Issue seller is claiming victory in a landmark case to have her work classed as a proper job and thus be eligible for extra benefits.”

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The Guardian, 17th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Suspected terrorist may not be deported to Jordan – Strasbourg rules – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 17th, 2012 in deportation, evidence, human rights, news, terrorism, torture by sally

“The Strasbourg Court has ruled today that whilst diplomatic assurances may protect a suspected terrorist from torture, he cannot be deported to Jordan while there remains a real risk that evidence obtained by torture will be used against him.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 17th January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Jon-Jaques Clinton’s wife murder conviction quashed – BBC News

Posted January 17th, 2012 in appeals, defences, evidence, murder, news, retrials by sally

“A 45-year-old man jailed for murdering his wife after she left him and found a new man has had his conviction quashed.”

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BBC News, 17th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman who tricked two teenage girls into relationships by disguising herself as a boy faces jail – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 17th, 2012 in fraud, news, sexual offences by sally

“A ‘mistress of disguise’ turned herself into a series of different ‘boys’ to launch ‘sexual affairs’ with two unsuspecting young girls, Guildford Crown Court has heard.”

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Daily Telegraph, 17th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

You Can’t Read This Book: why libel tourists love London – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2012 in choice of forum, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, publishing by sally

“In an exclusive extract from You Can’t Read This Book, the Observer columnist Nick Cohen presents a damning indictment of how the English legal system helps the wealthy and powerful suppress inconvenient truths.”

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The Guardian, 15th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bundled Feeds: Family Law

Posted January 17th, 2012 in news by sally

The posts on the Current Awareness blog are indexed using a controlled vocabulary. This means that users are able to filter what they receive by subscribing to individual category feeds. A full list of category feeds can be found here.

Since category feeds are designed to be quite specific we have decided to introduce bundled groups of feeds under broader subject areas.

We are treating this as an ongoing project and will be adding more groups of bundled feeds in the future.

More information can be found on the Bundled Feeds page.

Family Law

The first bundled feed we have put together is for Family Law.

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Ruling still allows Britain to deport other foreign nationals – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2012 in deportation, evidence, human rights, news, torture by sally

“Although Abu Qatada has persuaded the European Court of Human Rights that he would not get a fair trial if he is sent back to Jordan, the ruling is not as serious a defeat for the British government as it might have been.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

“Whole life” sentences for murder not in breach of Convention, says Strasbourg – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 17th, 2012 in human rights, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“The Strasbourg Court has found three British murderers’ imprisonment for life is not inhuman or degrading and therefore not in violation of Article 3.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 17th January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Abu Qatada deportation blocked in European court – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2012 in deportation, evidence, human rights, news, terrorism, torture by sally

“The European court of human rights has blocked the deportation to Jordan of Abu Qatada – who been called Osama bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe – because he risks facing a trial based on torture-tainted evidence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted January 17th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Access to the Countryside (Appeals against Works Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

The Agriculture (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012

The Public Lending Right Scheme 1982 (Commencement of Variation) Order 2012

The Localism Act 2011 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional and Saving Provision) Order 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted January 17th, 2012 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

JBW Group Ltd v Ministry of Justice [2012] EWCA Civ 8 (16 January 2012)

High Court (Administrative Court)

MK, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2012] EWHC 18 (Admin) (16 January 2012)

High Court (Patents Court)

Benker v The Comptroller General of Patents [2011] EWHC 3604 (Pat) (22 November 2011)

Source: www.bailii.org

Burglary offences guideline comes into effect – Sentencing Council

Posted January 17th, 2012 in burglary, news, sentencing by sally

“Following a three month period of training and implementation the definitive guideline on burglary offences came into effect on 16 January 2012.”

Burglary Offences Definitive Guideline (PDF)

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Family reform judge calls for culture change – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 17th, 2012 in family courts, judges, news, reports by sally

“A ‘strong consensus’ and a ‘commitment to a change in culture’ is needed to improve the efficiency of the family justice system, according to the senior judge charged with reform. In his first published update since being appointed to lead the modernisation of family justice, Mr Justice Ryder sets out a ‘challenging timetable’ to agree proposals on a programme to put in place the recommendations of the Norgrove review by the time his appointment ends at the end of July.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 17th January 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk