Grenfell criminal charges more likely, say lawyers after inquiry – The Guardian

Posted November 4th, 2019 in fire, health & safety, inquiries, news, prosecutions by sally

‘Lawyers believe the prospect of criminal charges against those responsible for the Grenfell Tower tragedy has “increased significantly” following findings by the official inquiry into the disaster.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted November 4th, 2019 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

High Court (Chancery Division)

High Court (Commercial Court)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Source: www.bailii.org

Anthony Arnull: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted November 4th, 2019 in bills, brexit, constitutional law, news by sally

‘The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill is intended to give effect in the UK to the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) agreed by the UK with the EU-27 on 1 October 2019. The Bill received its second reading on 22 October 2019 and is currently in ‘limbo’ pending the start of the committee stage. If and when it is adopted, the Bill will make significant amendments to (inter alia) the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EUWA).’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 4th November 2019

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Youth court system in ‘chaos’, says children’s commissioner – The Guardian

Posted November 4th, 2019 in children, news, young offenders, youth courts by sally

‘Vulnerable children in England and Wales waiting months for convictions, appearing without adult support and being wrongly placed in dock, Guardian investigation finds.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Woman faked email reference to get law firm job – Legal Futures

‘A woman who set up a fake law firm email address so as to provide a bogus reference to a real firm looking to employ her has been banned from working in the profession.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 4th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Share of convicted children who are BAME doubles in eight years – The Guardian

Posted November 4th, 2019 in children, minorities, news, statistics, young persons, youth courts by sally

‘The proportion of children convicted of a crime who are from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds has nearly doubled in eight years, an increase experts have described as an urgent problem.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

London borough defeats Court of Appeal challenge over succession rules – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 4th, 2019 in housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, succession by sally

‘The London Borough of Haringey has successfully defended a Court of Appeal challenge over the rules relating to the succession to secure council tenancies.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st November 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

President’s guidance as to reporting on family courts – Transparency Project

Posted November 4th, 2019 in consultations, family courts, news, reporting restrictions by sally

‘As part of the decision made by the President of the Family Division in the appeal by TP member, Louise Tickle in February, Sir Andrew McFarlane stated that guidance to courts would need to be issued to address the uncertainty that existed if a journalist or legal blogger entitled to attend court asked for leave to publish information from the hearing. Draft guidance was published in March, and following a consultation period the final version has now been issued. The Transparency Project responded to the consultation. The new guidance was published on the Judiciary website on 29th October, although it is dated 3rd October.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 1st November 2019

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Tribunal orders council to disclose instructions sent to QC over motion for ‘call-in’ of planning applications – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 4th, 2019 in disclosure, freedom of information, news, planning, privilege by sally

‘The First-tier Tribunal has ordered Ryedale District Council to disclose the briefing question it sent to a Queen’s Counsel seeking advice on a motion in which councillors sought for competing retail planning applications to be ‘called in’.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st November 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Parents take legal action over pupils labelled as truants – The Guardian

Posted November 4th, 2019 in fines, mental health, news, prosecutions, school children, truancy by sally

‘Families with children who are labelled “school refusers” are planning to take legal action against the government to challenge rules on truancy that allow them to be fined and prosecuted.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Meeting income needs from capital – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 4th, 2019 in divorce, financial provision, news, remuneration by sally

‘Two of the most recent issues which have been considered by the Family Court are as follows:

Whether an earning capacity is a matrimonial asset to which the sharing principle applies; and

In a sharing case, to what extent is it fair that a wife is required to use her share of capital to meet her income needs, whereas the husband will meet his income needs from future income?’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 4th November 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Councils unable to enforce against unlicensed taxi/PHV drivers because of outdated laws, LGA warns – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 4th, 2019 in licensing, local government, news, taxis by sally

‘Outdated legislation and new technology have meant that councils are unable to take enforcement action against the rising number of unlicensed drivers operating in their area, the Local Government Association has warned.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st November 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Man who raped woman then stole her phone jailed for 15 years – The Independent

Posted November 4th, 2019 in burglary, news, offensive weapons, rape, sentencing by sally

‘A man who raped a woman at knifepoint before stealing her phone, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.’

Full Story

The Independent, 3rd November 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court users with limited access to technology at risk of being left behind by court modernisation programme: MPs – Local Government Lawyer

‘Court users with limited access to computers, poor literacy or limited understanding of how the law works could be disadvantaged and potentially left going through a case with no legal advice as a result of the courts and tribunals modernisation programme, MPs have said.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st November 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High court to hear crowdfunded challenge to ‘begging fines’ – The Guardian

‘A landmark high court case will determine whether fines for begging, loitering and leaving bedding in doorways unfairly targets homeless people, after a fundraising campaign for legal costs reached its target.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Blood inquiry judge: ‘Many left in grinding hardship’ – BBC News

Posted November 4th, 2019 in blood products, inquiries, news by sally

‘All those affected by the contaminated blood scandal should receive the same financial support, no matter where they live in the UK, says the judge in charge of the inquiry.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st November 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Children in handcuffs: a month reporting from youth court – The Guardian

Posted November 4th, 2019 in children, news, young offenders, youth courts by sally

‘The Guardian goes inside one of England’s busiest youth courts, where every day the fate of some of the most vulnerable children in society is decided.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

MoJ scotches hopes of whiplash shift over children – Legal Futures

Posted November 4th, 2019 in children, damages, news, personal injuries, road traffic, small claims by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has refused to give way to the concerns of claimant groups that children who suffer whiplash injuries lasting less than nine months will be denied access to justice under next April’s reforms.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 4th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Former Royal Ballet star who sexually abused girls he taught in private lessons is jailed for 10 years – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 4th, 2019 in child abuse, guilty pleas, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A former Royal Ballet star who sexually abused three young girls he taught in private dance lessons has been jailed for 10 years.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 1st November 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘I was told women couldn’t survive as barristers’ – BBC News

Posted November 4th, 2019 in barristers, diversity, equality, judges, judiciary, news, women by sally

‘Two senior judges have spoken about the challenges they have faced in the justice system.’

Full Story

BBC News, 4th November 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk