Richard Cornes: 11-1 gender ratio Court’s Achilles Heel: Reporting of the Supreme Court’s start of the year press briefing – UK Constitutional Law Group

Posted October 16th, 2013 in diversity, human rights, Islam, media, news, Supreme Court, women by sally

“On October 2 at 10am, the United Kingdom Supreme Court held an hour long pre-term press-briefing to mark the opening of the Court’s fifth year. This blog looks not only at what was said by the Court, and asked by the journalists on the day, but also what was then reported.”

Full story

UK Constitutional Law Group, 16th October 2013

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

High Court refuses to delay high street court battle with MasterCard – The Lawyer

“An attempt by MasterCard to avoid a multi-billion damages claim from a dozen retailers because the monthly due diligence costs charged by its lawyers at Jones Day could be as much as £700,000 has been rejected by the High Court.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 16th October 2013

Source: www.thelawyer.com

High Court: winning party should not be kept to out-of-date approved budget – Litigation Futures

Posted October 16th, 2013 in budgets, claims management, costs, news by sally

“The High Court has rejected a bid to limit a winning party’s costs to a previously approved budget where a substantially revised one was seen by the court and other party but not dealt with at the pre-trial review (PTR).”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 16th October 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Aarhus, A-G Kokott’s opinion, and the PCO reciprocal cap – UK Human Rights Blog

“Forgive me for returning to this case, but it raises all sorts of questions. On the face of it, it concerns 2 specific environmental directives, but it has implications for costs generally in environmental cases.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 15th October 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Big Issue stabbings: Homeless man detained for life – BBC News

Posted October 16th, 2013 in diminished responsibility, homelessness, homicide, mental health, news, sentencing by sally

“A homeless man who admitted killing two Big Issue sellers in a knife attack in Birmingham has been detained for life.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Birmingham branded ‘national disgrace’ for child protection failures – The Guardian

“Vulnerable children are being let down by councils with ineffective and incompetent leadership, according to the Ofsted chief inspector, who singled out Birmingham as a ‘national disgrace’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Harsher penalties for dangerous dog owners whose pets are involved in violent attacks – The Independent

Posted October 16th, 2013 in bills, consultations, dogs, imprisonment, news, penalties by sally

“The owners of dangerous dogs involved in violent attacks could face similar penalties to those found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, Home Office Minister Norman Baker has said.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Complaints against doctors double since 2007 – Daily Telegraph

“Complaints against doctors have more than doubled in six years amid increasing demand on NHS services and rising expectations from patients, according to a new report.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Most gay hate crimes go unreported, Stonewall survey finds – The Independent

“More than three-quarters of gay, bisexual and lesbian victims of hate crime did not report it to the police, a survey found.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Man who killed three generations in Cwmbran fire has sentence increased – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2013 in appeals, arson, families, fire, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A violent drifter who murdered three generations of the same family, including his own ill baby daughter, by setting fire to their home has had his minimum jail term increased.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Prisoner votes Supreme Court decision expected – BBC News

Posted October 16th, 2013 in appeals, bills, EC law, elections, human rights, news, prisons, proportionality, Supreme Court by sally

“The Supreme Court will rule later whether prisoners have the right to vote under European Union rules – even though they cannot under British law.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crown Prosecution Service admits misleading public over complaints – The Guardian

“The Crown Prosecution Service has admitted publishing misleading records of complaints made about its performance.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘A rank denial of justice’ for vulnerable people: Senior judge attacks plan to cut legal aid by £350m – The Independent

“Britain’s most senior judge has warned the Government that its proposed cuts to the legal aid budget could mean ‘a rank denial of justice’ for vulnerable people.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Libel tourism at an end, say lawyers following high court rulings – The Guardian

“Lawyers have heralded the death of so-called libel tourism after the high court threw out two cases brought by wealthy foreigners over allegations published overseas.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

EVENT: Queen Mary – Fourth London Alumni International Tax Conference

Posted October 15th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“This year’s line-up of speakers includes alumni from the UK and all over the world. More information can be found in the event Tax Conference Programme.”

Date: 24th-25th October 2013, 9.00-5.00pm

Location & Charge: See website for details

More information can be found here.

EVENT: The Law Society – National Pro Bono Centre Question Time ‘Pro Bono: What? Why? Where?’

Posted October 15th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“National Pro Bono Week 2013 will be officially launched with an interactive debate on pro bono.

Organised by the National Pro Bono Centre in association with the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pro Bono, an expert panel will take questions from attendees on the evolving role of pro bono in England and Wales.

The panel chaired by the Attorney General’s Envoy, Mike Napier CBE, QC is:

• Gillian Guy, chief executive, Citizens Advice
• Sejal Karavadra, head of immigration, DBS Law Ltd
• Jessica Lee MP, chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Pro Bono
• Jon Robins, editor, The Justice Gap
• Lord Low of Dalston CBE
• Andy Slaughter MP, Shadow Justice Minister.”

Date: 4th November 2013, 6.00-8.00pm

Location: Portcullis House, Westminster

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.

EVENT: The Law Society – Civil Justice Section Conference: New EU civil justice instruments: the essential guide for English and Welsh solicitors

Posted October 15th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“Whether it is a dispute in cross-border trade between businesses, a consumer buying goods over the internet who encounters a problem or an accident abroad, EU civil justice measures are of relevance to all practitioners dealing with civil litigation and dispute resolution.

This event is designed to update you on key developments that you need to be aware of. We will cover:

important changes soon to be introduced to the Brussels I Regulation;
new ADR options for businesses and consumers;
latest developments on collective redress;
upcoming reform of the European small claims procedure;
next steps on the Common European Sales Law and in EU consumer law.

With a range of leading panelists, the event is designed to inform but also to inspire discussion as to what changes solicitors would like to see in the future.”

CPD hours 2

Date: 30th October 2013, 1.45-5.15pm

Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL

Charge: See website for details.

More information can be found here.

EVENT: IALS – The Office of the Jurisprudent and the Jurisprudences of Dying under Medical Supervision

Posted October 15th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“This paper addresses the office of the jurisprudent and the role of jurisprudence in the characterisation of the lawful relations of those engaged in assisted dying under medical supervision. Over the last forty years the juristic and jurisprudential representation of medical and healthcare law has developed into a distinct academic project, yet, for many, it does not provide an adequate juridical account of the assisted dying. Perhaps this should be no surprise since the question of how someone might die lawfully, or die well, before the common law is contested with great intensity. A number of answers as to why such disputes continue can be clearly stated in disciplines outside of law. However it is often hard to give proper shape to the jurisprudential questions at issue. In reflecting on this situation, I would like to return the jurisprudence of assisted dying to the understanding of the office of the jurisprudent. Whilst the concerns of office are not always treated as bearing much weight of meaning, the language and ethics of office, I will argue, does provide an important way of understanding how the dignities, jurisdictions, duties, privileges and rights of public and institutional life are assumed and performed. It also provides a distinct form of evaluation. Locating the responsibilities of the office of the jurisprudent provides one way of coming to terms with how jurisprudents and citizens might care for the conduct and commitments of lawful relations.

In this seminar, I would like to take up the challenges to office raised in the recent case of Nicklinson, R (on the application of) v A Primary Care Trust [2013] EWCA Civ 961 (31 July 2013). I present an argument here for treating jurisprudence both as a training in a conduct of office and as a discourse addressing the conduct of a lawful life. The focus of this paper lies on the commitments of office and ethic of responsibility that shape state-centred civil jurisprudence and the responsibilities of jurisprudents in considering the conduct of lawful relations subject to civil authority.”

Date: 11th November 2013, 6.00pm

Location: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DR

Charge: See website for details

More information can be found here.

EVENT: IALS – The Role of Academics in Legal Education and Training: a chance to consider the future of legal education and training in the light of the LETR Report

Posted October 15th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“A One-day conference organised by the Society of Legal Scholars in association with the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies:

Keynote Speaker: Professor William Twining, Emeritus Quain Professor of Jurisprudence, UCL will speak on “The Role of Academics in Legal Education and Training”.

After the keynote address, there will be discussion groups on some of the main recommendations of the LETR Report led by representatives of the academic associations in Law – ALT, CHULS, SLS and SLSA. Conference participants will have ample opportunity to express their views on the LETR recommendations and the future direction of academic legal education, and these will be fed back to the academic associations in Law to inform their consideration of the LETR Report.

The day will end with a panel discussion on the future role of academics in legal education and training: confirmed participants include:

Professor Chris Ashford, Executive Committee Member, SLSA;
Professor Stephen Bailey, President, Society of Legal Scholars;
Professor Anthony Bradney, SLS Legal Education Committee member;
Professor Jane Ching, member of the LETR Research Team;
Professor Rebecca Huxley Binns, Chair, Association of Law Teachers;
Professor Andrew Sanders, Chair Committee of Heads of university Law School;
Chair: Professor Fiona Cownie, SLS Legal Education Committee Chair.”

Date: 30th October 2013, 10.30-16.30pm

Location: Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DR

Charge: £45.00 to include refreshments and lunch.

More information can be found here.

EVENT: Birkbeck – Judicial Conversations: Isobel Williams Drawing The UK Supreme Court

Posted October 15th, 2013 in Forthcoming events by sally

“Isobel Williams is an artist. She regularly attends sittings of the UK Supreme Court and has been granted permission to make images in the courtroom. Her drawings of the court offer a unique perspective on the work of the highest court of the land and the characters that struggle for and deliver justice in that institution. Isobel will provide an introduction to her work.”

Date: 18th October 2013, 6.00-7.30pm

Location: Room 541, Birkbeck, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HZ (entry via Torrington Square)

Charge: Free

More information can be found here.