Call to divide AG’s dual role – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 8th, 2008 in attorney general, news by sally

“Parliamentary support for the government’s decision not to split the Attorney General’s legal and political functions has attracted scathing criticism from experts.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 7th August 2008

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ministers accused of retreat on role of attorney general – The Guardian

Posted July 31st, 2008 in attorney general, constitutional reform, news by sally

“Gordon Brown’s plans for constitutional reforms to make the government more accountable to parliament and the public have been turned into a ‘ragbag of retreats’ by the justice secretary, Jack Straw, according to a dissenting report by a minority on a cross-party group of MPs and peers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

No government should award itself unreviewable powers – The Times

Posted July 3rd, 2008 in attorney general, judicial review, special report by sally

“Last week’s report by the House of Commons Justice Committee on the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill draws attention to an issue of fundamental importance: whether judicial review should be excluded if and when the Attorney-General stops a criminal investigation or prosecution on national security grounds. The committee rightly objected to such an unconstitutional immunity.”

Full story

The Times, 3rd July 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Constitution bill will give attorney general even more power without transparency, MPs warn – The Guardian

Posted June 24th, 2008 in attorney general, news by sally

“The attorney general must no longer combine the roles of politician and legal adviser to the government to maintain public confidence, a committee of MPs says today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th June 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government Response to Report on Attorney General’s Role – Attorney General’s Office

Posted May 2nd, 2008 in attorney general, reports by sally

Government Response to Report on Attorney General’s Office.”

Full response

Attorney General’s Office, 30th April 2008

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

Goldsmith urges appeal against BAE ruling – The Guardian

Posted April 14th, 2008 in appeals, attorney general, corruption, news, Saudi Arabia by sally

“Lord Goldsmith, the former attorney general, yesterday increased pressure on the Serious Fraud Office to appeal against last week’s high court ruling that the government acted unlawfully in blocking a criminal investigation of secret payments made by the arms company BAE Systems to Saudi Arabia.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Saudi case raises fears about law chief’s role – The Independent

Posted April 14th, 2008 in attorney general, corruption, news, Saudi Arabia by sally

“Gordon Brown faces a growing backlash over moves to give the attorney general sweeping powers to veto criminal investigations following devastating criticism of the Government’s decision to halt the inquiry into arms sales to Saudi Arabia.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th April 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Analysis: what next after High Court ruling on BAE? – The Times

Posted April 11th, 2008 in attorney general, corruption, Saudi Arabia, special report by sally

“When Tony Blair, as Prime Minister, approached the Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, QC, to argue the case for the dropping of the corruption investigation into the BAE arms deal, he insisted that it was a matter ultimately for the Government’s chief law officer. But — justifying his approach — Mr Blair said that this was the ‘clearest case for intervention in the public interest he had seen’.”

Full story

The Times, 10th April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Package of reforms to historic role of Attorney General announced – The Attorney General’s Office

Posted March 26th, 2008 in attorney general, press releases by sally

“Following a four-month consultation Baroness Scotland has today outlined reforms that will mean a number of significant changes to the historic role of the Attorney General.”

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 25th March 2008

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

‘It’s a bit odd that I’m the first female Attorney-General’ – The Times

Posted March 18th, 2008 in attorney general, special report by sally

“Baroness Scotland of Asthal, the Attorney-General, is determined that more women will follow her up the legal ladder.”

Full story

The Times, 18th March 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Law chief ‘delaying Serbian corruption case’ – The Guardian

Posted March 12th, 2008 in attorney general, corruption, news, prosecutions by sally

“The attorney general, Lady Scotland, is using her powers over criminal prosecutions to delay another major overseas corruption case, the Guardian has learned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th March 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Britain can’t afford to be corrupt – The Times

Posted March 11th, 2008 in attorney general, corruption, prosecutions, special report by sally

“The decision to stop the BAE investigation raises questions about the rule of law and fairness in deciding which cases to prosecute.”

Full story

The Times, 11th March 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Labour retreat over attorney general’s role – The Guardian

Posted March 11th, 2008 in attorney general, constitutional law, news, prosecutions by sally

“The government is poised to let the attorney general retain the power to stop prosecutions such as the corruption case against BAE Systems on national security grounds, the Guardian has learned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th March 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Backstory: Iraq legal advice – The Guardian

Posted February 27th, 2008 in attorney general, Iraq, special report, war by sally

“Shortly before the start of the Iraq war, the then-attorney general Lord Goldsmith published a nine-paragraph statement saying why he thought the invasion would be legal under international law.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Law minister is forced to give up power over political cases – The Times

Posted January 29th, 2008 in attorney general, conflict of interest, news by sally

“The Attorney-General has been forced to drop the task of instigating criminal proceedings in political cases such as ‘cash for honours’ after fallout from a series of apparent conflicts of interest.”

Full story

The Times, 29th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Attorney general’s prosecution role may be curtailed – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2007 in attorney general, Crown Prosecution Service, news by sally

“The attorney general is likely to lose the right to play a part in prosecution decisions but keep the job of government legal adviser in a shakeup of the role to restore public confidence, the Guardian has learned. The change will form part of Gordon Brown’s new constitutional settlement, along with other measures to increase public accountability which opened for consultation last week, including a bigger role for MPs in deciding whether to wage war.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th October 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

General reform – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 26th, 2007 in attorney general, special report by sally

“As the attorney-general’s role comes under scrutiny, Baroness Scotland and solicitor-general Vera Baird reveal to Anita Rice their hopes for the future.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th October 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Top job at US law firm for Goldsmith – The Times

Posted September 27th, 2007 in attorney general, law firms, news by sally

“The former Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, QC, is joining a top American law firm today to lead its European litigation practice.”

Full story

The Times, 27th September 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Baroness Scotland QC: Evolving for the 21st century – Legal Week

Posted September 21st, 2007 in attorney general, special report by sally

“As legal practitioners you will be familiar to some extent with the historic role of the Attorney General, its position at the heart of our civil and criminal justice system and the absolute integrity of the rule of law.”

Full story

Legal Week, 20th September 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Attorney general outlines ways to reform her job – The Guardian

Posted July 27th, 2007 in attorney general, news by sally

“The attorney general’s legal advice could be made public and the attorney could lose the right to take prosecution decisions under a range of options for radical reform of the job outlined by the government yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th July 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk