Buckland raises judicial retirement age to 75 – Litigation Futures

Posted March 10th, 2021 in consultations, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news, retirement, statistics by sally

‘The mandatory retirement age (MRA) for judges is to be raised from 70 to 75 to deal with shortfalls in judicial recruitment, the government has decided.’

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Litigation Futures, 9th March 2021

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Stalking protection orders: Police ‘not using’ new powers to protect victims – BBC News

Posted March 10th, 2021 in enforcement, harassment, news, police, stalking, statistics, victims by sally

‘New powers to protect stalking victims are not being used by police, a BBC Wales investigation has found.’

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BBC News, 10th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Interim report reveals 400 submissions over UK gymnastics abuse – The Guardian

‘A review into abuse in British gymnastics has received submissions from nearly 400 people, with 39 cases considered so serious they have been passed to local authorities because of child safeguarding reasons or concerns of ongoing criminal conduct.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

MI5 policy allowing agents to commit crimes was legal, say judges – The Guardian

‘MI5’s partially secret policy of allowing agents to participate in serious crimes in pursuit of intelligence was legal, three court of appeal judges have concluded.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Cab Rank Rule – Oxford Human Rights Hub

‘In his blog for the Human Rights Hub, Edwin Cameron criticised Ms Dinah Rose QC, the President of Magdalen, for accepting the brief, in the Privy Council, to defend the Cayman Islands government’s law against same-sex marriage. Having long been one of my few judicial heroes, it is not easy for me to disagree with Edwin. However, on this point he is, with the greatest of respect, wrong.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 7th March 2021

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Ellie’s Law: Parents of murdered girl win sentencing fight – BBC News

‘A mother who fought to change the law around murder says her daughter would be “very proud”.’

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BBC News, 9th March 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Quarter of women and girls have been abused by a partner, says WHO – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2021 in children, domestic violence, news, sexual offences, statistics, women, young persons by sally

‘Largest such study finds domestic violence experienced by one-in-four teenage girls with worst levels faced by women in their 30s.’

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The Guardian, 9th March 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Repeat homelessness applications and local connection – Garden Court Chambers

‘The Claimant, Mr Minott, applied to Cambridge City Council as homeless in March 2019 and was provided with interim accommodation under s188(1) Housing Act 1996. However the performance of the relief duty under s189B(2) Housing Act 1996 was subsequently referred to Sandwell MBC, on the footing that Mr Minott had a local connection with the district of that authority but did not have a local connection with the district of Cambridge.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 26th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

“You have reached your destination…”; Uber v. Aslam – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘On 19 February 2021 the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in the long running dispute between Uber and its drivers.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 26th February 2021

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Coercive and Controlling Behaviours: How are they to be dealt with in fact finding hearings after the recent case of F v M? – Becket Chambers

‘Allegations of domestic abuse are usually raised from the outset by either the applicant or respondent in private law proceedings. Further allegations may be raised at the safeguarding stage, with recommendations by Cafcass as to whether there should be a fact finding hearing, before final resolution of the case.’

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Becket Chambers, 3rd March 2021

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Forensic Science – Codes of Practice and Joint Statements – 2 Hare Court

‘Two new publications were issued by the Forensic Science Regulator (“FSR”) in February 2021.’

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2 Hare Court, 25th February 2021

Source: www.2harecourt.com

Covid and sentencing: a round-up of the relevant authorities – Doughty Street Chambers

‘The pandemic has inarguably made custody more severe. Prisoners spend more time in their cell, have fewer visits, and face a heightened risk of infection. The higher courts have established that sentencing courts should account for such hardship. The below is a round-up of the relevant authorities.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 4th March 2021

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

The Domestic Abuse Bill, a step in the right direction? – Garden Court Chambers

‘The Domestic Abuse Bill received its second reading stage in the House of Lords on 5 January 2021. The government has indicated a commitment to improving the justice system’s effectiveness in providing protection for victims of domestic abuse and bringing perpetrators to justice.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 1st March 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

The Cab Rank Rule: English Barristers in Foreign Courts – 3 Hare Court

Posted March 5th, 2021 in barristers, chambers articles, foreign jurisdictions, news by sally

‘When the cab rank rule is no longer a defence: Matthew Happold on considerations when accepting instructions overseas.’

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3 Hare Court, 26th February 2021

Source: www.3harecourt.com

Practice Direction 27A and its application to financial proceedings – 3PB

‘The courts are increasingly referring to PD 27A and the necessity for compliance.’

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3PB, 26th February 2021

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

A brief update: COVID-19 related workplace disputes in Employment Tribunal – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘As anticipated the start of 2021 has shown an increase in COVID-19 related claims being heard at employment tribunals. What type of claims have been heard so far and what should we expect to see more of?’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 1st March 2021

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

A new approach to witness statements in the Business and Property Courts: the new Practice Direction 57AC – Hardwicke Chambers

‘The new Practice Direction 57AC (Witness evidence at trial) is set to significantly alter the approach taken to witness statements in the Business and Property Courts (B&PCs) by introducing new rules to deal with “the phenomenon over-long, over-lawyered trial witness statements” (paragraph 10 of the Factual Witness Evidence in Trials before the Business & Property Courts: Implementation Report of the Witness Evidence Working Group (31 July 2020) (Implementation Report). It will apply in the B&PCs to witness statements signed on or after 6 April 2021 in both new and existing proceedings (paragraph 1.1, PD 57AC. Note that certain types of proceedings are excluded unless the court directs otherwise: see paragraph 1.3).’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 4th March 2021

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Would receipt of a Covid-19 vaccine be in a mentally incapacitated person’s best interests when other treatments are proposed by a family member? – Garden Court Chambers

‘V is in her early 70s and resides in a care home. She has Korsakoff’s syndrome. SD, V’s daughter, sought a declaration that it would not be in V’s best interests to administer a Covid-19 vaccine to V. The local authority argued it was in V’s best interests to receive the vaccine.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 26th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Section 119 Highways Act 1980 – criteria for the diversion of a footpath, bridleway or restricted byway – Pallant Chambers

Posted March 5th, 2021 in appeals, chambers articles, news, planning, roads, statutory interpretation by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court’s decision in the case of The Open Spaces Society v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2020] EWHC 1085 Admin (05 May 2020) as to the correct criteria to be applied when considering applications to divert a footpath, bridleway or restricted byway under section 119 of the Highways Act 1980. The judgment confirms that in carrying out the test of expediency under section 119(6) of the Act, the decision making is not confined to determining the matter solely on the basis of the criteria under section 119(6)(a),(b), and (c). Provided that those criteria are specifically considered, then the decision maker can take account of a broad range of matters in reaching a conclusion, even if those matters have already been considered under other requirements of section 119 of the Act.’

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Pallant Chambers, 26th February 2021

Source: www.pallantchambers.co.uk

Lacuna in leave to remain policy arising from delays in identification of victims of trafficking – Garden Court Chambers

‘In EOG v SSHD [2020] EWHC 3310 (Admin) the Court considered a challenge to the Home Office’s policy not to grant victims of trafficking a right to work or leave to remain whilst they are within the National Referral Mechanism. Mostyn J found in the Claimant’s favour and declared the Home Office’s policy unlawful as it failed to implement the obligation in Article 10.2 of ECAT to protect potential victims of trafficking from removal pending the conclusion of the process. He held that “[s]uffering such persons to remain as overstayers, or as illegal immigrants, does not fulfil the obligation” (§48). He left the issue of how the policy should be reformulated to the Home Office to determine. As regards the right to work, the Judge held that “Someone in the position of the claimant, who has a time-limited right to work, should not have the arbitrary adverse consequence of a removal of that right meted out to her simply by virtue of the delays that she is likely to face” (§48).’

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Garden Court Chambers, 26th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk