Autonomy and the role of the Official Solicitor – whose interests are really being represented? – UK Human Rights Blog

“The day before our seminar on the Court of Protection and the right to autonomy, the Strasbourg Court has ruled on a closely related issue in a fascinating challenge to the role of the Official Solicitor in making decisions on behalf of individuals who are for one reason or another unable to act for themselves.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 10th October 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lawcast 222: John Cooper QC on the DPP round table social media prosecutions discussions – Charon QC

“Today I am talking to John Cooper QC. The DPP is holding a series of round table meetings to consider where the law should be in relation to online social media spoken and written. Rather strangely – while the DPP invited lawyers who have been involved in recent high profile cases and some lawyers who weren’t even peripherally involved – Keir Starmer QC did not extend an invitation to leading criminal silk John Copper QC who actually led the team in the celebrated Paul Chambers Twitterjoketrial case – which the team won.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 10th October 2012

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

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

Elton John ‘not libelled by Times tax avoidance article’ – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2012 in defamation, media, news, tax avoidance by sally

“The high court has ruled that Sir Elton John was not libelled by the Times in articles that he claimed falsely linked him to a controversial tax avoidance scheme.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted October 10th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Disclosure and Barring Service (Core Functions) Order 2012

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Short Selling) Regulations 2012

The River Humber (Burcom Outfall) (Transfer) Order 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted October 10th, 2012 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Rance v R. [2012] EWCA Crim 2023 (09 October 2012)

Calvert v R. [2012] EWCA Crim 2034 (09 October 2012)

Khaleel v R. [2012] EWCA Crim 2035 (09 October 2012)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Sunderland City Council, R (on the application of) v South Tyneside Council [2012] EWCA Civ 1232 (09 October 2012)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Beasley v Alexander [2012] EWHC 2715 (QB) (09 October 2012)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Harsten Developments Ltd v Eaken & Ors [2012] EWHC 2704 (Ch) (09 October 2012)

High Court (Administrative Court)

MA, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWHC 2683 (Admin) (05 October 2012)

Source: www.bailii.org

Facebook and Twitter sentences: Are judges out of touch with social media? – BBC News

“A 12-week prison sentence given to a man who posted offensive comments on Facebook about missing April Jones and Madeleine McCann has been criticised by legal commentators as disproportionate. But are judges and magistrates out of touch when it comes to social media?”

Full story

BBC News, 10th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Policeman who hit cyclist at 45mph given suspended jail sentence – The Guardian

“A speeding police officer who caused ‘catastrophic’ injuries to a singer-songwriter while responding to an emergency call in his van has been given a suspended eight-month jail sentence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Five criminals to make life sentence appeal – BBC News

Posted October 10th, 2012 in appeals, human rights, murder, news, rape, sentencing by sally

“Five of the UK’s most dangerous criminals are to appeal against their life sentences for murder and rape.”

Full story

BBC News, 10th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Human rights violations in EU courts double in five years – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2012 in criminal justice, human rights, news, remand, statistics, trials by sally

“Greece, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania are the worst European Union countries at delivering justice through criminal trials, according to an independent survey of the union’s courts.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: Human rights violations in Europe, broken down by country, article violated and judgment

New Standard Contractual Terms to take effect in January 2013 – Bar Standards Board

Posted October 10th, 2012 in barristers, contracts, legal services, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB), the regulatory body for barristers in England and Wales, has agreed that the new Standard Contractual Terms will now take effect on 31 January 2013.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 9th October 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Birmingham riots: Men jailed for attack on police – BBC News

Posted October 10th, 2012 in arson, explosives, news, police, sentencing, violent disorder by sally

“Two men have been jailed after police came under fire during riots in Birmingham in August 2011.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th October 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Facebook and Twitter could be asked to increase moderation of networks – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2012 in freedom of expression, internet, malicious communications, news, prosecutions by sally

“The director of public prosecutions is exploring whether Facebook and Twitter should take more responsibility for policing their networks for abuse and harassment in an attempt to reduce the number of cases coming to court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Britain could become Belarus if it abandons human rights legislation, warns Attorney General – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 10th, 2012 in attorney general, human rights, lord chancellor, news by sally

“Britain would be left comparable to ‘Belarus’ if it abandoned the European Court on Human Rights, Dominic Grieve has warned.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th October 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Chris Grayling’s self-defence plans greeted with dismay by lawyers – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2012 in burglary, news, self-defence by sally

“The new justice secretary’s announcement that he will let householders deploy ‘disproportionate’ force defending homes and families has been greeted by criminal lawyers with dismay.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: Self-defence – the law now and how it might change

Serious sexual offenders to get ‘two strikes and you’re out’ life sentences – The Guardian

“A hardline ‘two strikes and you’re out’ automatic life sentence for serious sexual or violent offences will be brought into force shortly, the self-proclaimed ‘tough’ justice secretary, Chris Grayling, has told the Conservative party conference.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Standard bar contracts put back by three months – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 10th, 2012 in barristers, contracts, legal services, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

“The introduction of standard contractual terms between barristers and solicitors has been delayed by three months to make sure all firms and chambers are prepared, the Bar Standards Board announced today.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th October 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Abu Qatada extradition fight moves to immigration commission – The Guardian

Posted October 10th, 2012 in deportation, detention, human rights, news, terrorism, torture by sally

“The Palestinian-born cleric Abu Qatada will resist a fresh attempt to deport him at a hearing of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in central London on Wednesday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk