Upper Tribunal rules on burden of proof when statutory defence to HMO offence is pleaded – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Upper Tribunal has ruled on where the burden of proof lies when it is said that the manager of a house in multiple occupation had a reasonable excuse for conduct which, but for that defence, would amount to a relevant housing offence under section 249A, Housing Act 2004.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 25th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New Judgment: Elgizouli (AP) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] UKSC 10 – UKSC Blog

‘The appellant’s son is alleged to have been one of a group of terrorists operating in Syria, involved in the murder of US and British citizens. The US made a mutual legal assistance request to the UK in relation to an investigation into the activities of that group. The Home Secretary requested an assurance that the information would not be used directly or indirectly in a prosecution that could lead to the imposition of the death penalty. The US refused to provide a full death penalty assurance and the Home Secretary agreed to provide information to the US without requiring any assurance. The appellant challenged the Home Secretary’s decision by way of judicial review. The questions for the Supreme Court were firstly whether it is unlawful for the Secretary of State to exercise his power to provide MLA so as to supply evidence to a foreign state that will facilitate the imposition of the death penalty in that state on the individual and secondly whether it is lawful under the Data Protection Act 2018, Part 3 for law enforcement authorities in the UK to transfer personal data to law enforcement authorities abroad for use in capital criminal proceedings.’

Full Story

UKSC Blog, 25th March 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

Article 8: Test for Family Life arising out of Foster Care is no different to that of “Birth Families” – UK Human Rights Blog

‘On 12 March 2020 a unanimous Court of Appeal led by Sir Ernest Ryder (Senior President of the Tribunals), together with Lord Justice Bean and Lady Justice King, allowed the Appellant’s appeal against the First tier Tribunal (“FtT”) and Upper Tribunal (“UT”)’s decisions upholding the refusal of his application for leave to remain.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 24th March 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

The Coronavirus Act and the Care Act: The Key Points – Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses

‘The former Coronavirus Bill is now the Coronavirus Act 2020. The bill was not significantly amended in relation to the proposed changes to the Care Act – however, per s.87(2) of the Coronavirus Act, the changes relating to the Care Act will not come into force until further regulations are made to that effect. Arianna Kelly outlines the key points.’

Full Story

Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses, 26th March 2020

Source: lawinthetimeofcorona.wordpress.com

Judge gives guidance on application to Court of Appeal for interim relief – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 26th, 2020 in appeals, civil procedure rules, homelessness, housing, local government, news by sally

‘Lord Justice Hickinbottom has given guidance on making applications to the Court of Appeal for interim relief, in a housing case he declined to conclude because it had become academic.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 25th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

The Maya Forstater case and so-called ‘gender critical’ feminism: what was actually decided and what does it reveal about UK discrimination law? – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘In Forstater v CGD (2019), a think tank did not renew its contract for consultancy services with the claimant, Maya Forstater, allegedly because of Forstater expressing so-called ‘gender critical’ beliefs. Forstater claimed that she had suffered direct discrimination for having a protected belief under section 10 of the Equality Act 2010. In a preliminary decision, the employment tribunal considered whether the claimant’s belief was indeed protected. Tayler J identified the core of the claimant’s belief to be that sex is biologically immutable and, in no circumstances, is a trans woman ‘a woman’ or a trans man ‘a man’, even when the person in question has a Gender Recognition Certificate under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (paragraph [77]). Due to the belief’s ‘no circumstances’ aspect, the judge labelled it ‘absolutist’ ([84]).’

Full Story

Oxford Human Rights Hub, 22nd March 2020

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

What powers does “take such action as is necessary to enforce” give to police officers? – UK Police Law Blog

‘The powers in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closure) (England) Regulations 2020 allow a constable to “take such action as is necessary to enforce a premises closure or restriction”. The powers in theCoronavirus Act 2020, schedule 22 (formerly schedule 21 in the Bill) are to enforce a restriction or prohibition on gatherings or events and to close and restrict access to premises during a public health response period. Again, it will allow a constable to “take such action as is necessary to enforce such a restriction, prohibition or closure”. But what does the phrase, “take such action as is necessary to enforce …” mean?’

Full Story

UK Police Law Blog, 25th March 2020

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Akhter v Khan: Recognising (or not recognising) religious marriages in the UK – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted March 26th, 2020 in appeals, children, divorce, families, interpretation, islamic law, marriage, news by sally

‘Whether and how a religious marriage is recognised in law has profound consequences for couples and their children. This is the question at the heart of the Court of Appeal decision in Attorney General v Akhter and Khan [2020]. Here, the judges were faced with determining the status of a religious ceremony, conducted in a restaurant over 20 years ago – and in doing so, what family law rights the ‘wife’ has against her ‘husband’. In Akhter v Khan [2018] EWFC 54 the High Court argued for a novel solution to this question, through the law on null marriages. Widely praised for its pragmatism, the judge was able to avoid recognising their religious marriage as such, whilst still providing remedial protection to the ‘wife’ under Section 11 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. The Court of Appeal has now reversed this decision and re-asserted the orthodox rules on recognising religious marriages.’

Full Story

Oxford Human Rights Hub, 17th March 2020

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Landlord fails in Upper Tribunal appeal over requirement to attend training on tenancy management – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 26th, 2020 in appeals, landlord & tenant, licensing, news, tribunals by sally

‘The Upper Tribunal has rejected an appeal by a landlord over the imposition of a condition on his licence requiring him to attend training on how to manage tenancies.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 25th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Contingencies Fund Act 2020 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 26th, 2020 in legislation by sally

Contingencies Fund Act 2020

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Paedophile couple who met on Tinder jailed for 48 years after ‘sinking to depths of depravity’ – Daily Telegraph

‘A paedophile couple who met on Tinder have been jailed for 48 years after “sinking to the depths of depravity” to satisfy their own sexual urges.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 24th March 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Coronavirus: What Are My Employment Rights? – Each Other

Posted March 26th, 2020 in coronavirus, employment, health, health & safety, news, remuneration, sick leave by sally

‘With the UK now in coronavirus lockdown, many people will be anxious about their right to stay at home and their right to get paid. Lawyer Alex Monaco answers a selection of frequently asked questions on your employment rights.’

Full Story

Each Other, 25th March 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Re: ACC & Ors [2020] EWCOP 9 – 3PB

‘The case concerned the conflicts of interests that may arise where property and affairs
deputies employed by a law firm instruct that firm to carry out instructions for P, or to
conduct litigation on P’s behalf.’

Full Story

3PB, 10th March 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

The Court of Appeal reviews the right to silence in cases of contempt – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted March 26th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, contempt of court, news, notification by sally

‘The Court of Appeal today [17 March] handed down judgment in Andreewitch v Moutreuil [2020] EWCA Civ 382. The courts have long since recognised the “absolute right of a person accused of contempt to remain silent” (Comet v Hawkex [1971] 2 QB 67). The Andreewitch judgment establishes that a judge must warn alleged contemnors of that right before they give oral evidence.’

Full Story

Doughty Street Chambers, 17th March 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Lord Chancellor praises lawyers’ “heroic” efforts – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland yesterday praised lawyers for their “heroic efforts” in trying to keep trials going during the coronavirus pandemic.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government to protect commercial tenants from eviction if they miss rent payments over coronavirus outbreak –

‘Commercial tenants who miss a payment in the next three months because of the coronavirus outbreak will be protected from eviction, the government has announced.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Open justice direction published for remote hearings – Litigation Futures

‘A new practice direction clarifying when civil courts may derogate from the principle of open justice to conduct hearings remotely in private has been published today.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

England: police to get power to use force to impose coronavirus lockdown – The Guardian

Posted March 26th, 2020 in coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, fines, freedom of movement, news, police by sally

‘Police will be authorised to use force to send people back home if they refuse to obey the coronavirus lockdown, under government plans.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

What The Coronavirus Bill Could Mean For Mental Health – Each Other

‘The UK government’s Emergency Coronavirus Bill paves the way for widespread changes to legislation that could potentially have an alarming impact on our human rights, especially in the area of mental health.’

Full Story

Each Other, 24th March 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Coronavirus Act 2020 – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 26th, 2020 in coronavirus, emergency powers, legislation by sally

Coronavirus Act 2020

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk