Government agrees to call pregnant ministers ‘mothers’ – The Independent

‘The government has agreed to change the wording in its new maternity leave legislation from referring to “pregnant people” to “mothers” after the phrasing was rejected by the House of Lords – despite gender-neutral language being government convention.’

Full Story

The Independent, 26th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Discretionary Life Sentences – Setting the minimum term – ½ or 2/3 of the notional determinate sentence – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted February 25th, 2021 in attorney general, dangerous offenders, news, sentencing, terrorism by sally

‘James Wood QC discusses recent sentence appeals on minimum terms in discretionary life sentences. He assesses the likely impact of the recent statutory changes increasing the minimum term to be served by some prisoners serving determinate sentences from ½ to 2/3. He identifies prosecutorial appeals to increase minimum terms in discretionary life sentences by the Attorney General, and warns that the judicial and statutory drift appears to be towards a similar lengthening from ½ to 2/3 of the minimum term to be served by those sentenced to discretionary life sentences on grounds of dangerousness.’

Full Story

Doughty Street Chambers, 24th February 2021

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Barristers on AG panels “should consider resigning”, says top QC – Legal Futures

‘One of the country’s leading QCs has suggested that barristers on the Attorney General’s panels should consider resigning in protest at the government’s hostility to the law and lawyers.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 13th October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Brexit: barristers question selection of legal team leading UK drive to override deal – The Guardian

Posted September 16th, 2020 in attorney general, barristers, bills, brexit, EC law, government departments, news by michael

‘The government is facing increasing scrutiny over its decision to use “committed Brexiteer” lawyers to provide advice on the legality of breaching the EU withdrawal agreement.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Harry Dunn: Family to meet with top prosecutor amid talks over trial in absentia – The Independent

‘The family of Harry Dunn has been invited to a meeting with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) amid government discussions about the possibility of a trial in the absence of the teenager’s alleged killer.’

Full Story

The Independent, 8th September 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Harry Dunn death: Anne Sacoolas faces possible trial in absentia – The Guardian

‘The attorney general for England and Wales, Suella Braverman, is considering trying the wife of a US intelligence officer in her absence on a charge of causing the death by dangerous driving of the teenager Harry Dunn.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

PC Andrew Harper killing: sentences referred to attorney general – The Guardian

Posted August 5th, 2020 in attorney general, homicide, juries, news, police, sentencing, theft, young offenders by sally

‘The jail terms handed to three teenagers who killed a police officer as they tried to escape the scene of a crime have been referred to the attorney general, who will consider claims they are unduly lenient.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Shamima Begum: Bid to return in citizenship fight goes to Supreme Court – BBC News

‘The case of runaway Shamima Begum, who is fighting to return to the UK from Syria, will go to the Supreme Court.’

Full Story

BBC News, 31st July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Public prosecutor faces legal action over Cummings’ Durham trip – The Guardian

‘A judicial review is being sought over the failure of the director of public prosecutions, Max Hill, to investigate Dominic Cummings for alleged breaches of the coronavirus lockdown rules.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Attorney general faces calls to resign after she defends Dominic Cummings – The Guardian

‘The attorney general, Suella Braverman, is facing calls to resign after she joined the chorus of Downing Street loyalists defending Dominic Cummings’s trip to Durham during lockdown.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th May 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

JusticeWatch: Legal aid’s failing safety net – Legal Voice

Posted February 25th, 2020 in attorney general, family courts, judicial review, law firms, legal aid, news by sally

‘Almost four out of 10 legal aid firms do not use the LASPO ‘safety net’ and make exceptional case funding applications, according to a new study by the Public Law Project – reported on the Justice Gap (here). More then three-quarters believed the scheme was not effective. The PLP survey by Professor Joe Tomlinson and Emma Marshall drew on responses between from 89 legal aid providers and other groups providing legal advice and was conducted in October/ November last year. The aim was to engage with providers working in four areas – immigration, family, housing and welfare benefits. Researchers identified 1,276 organisations with a legal aid contract working across these four areas.’

Full Story

Legal Voice, 21st February 2020

Source: legalvoice.org.uk

The QC Tipped To Lead The Effort To ‘Update’ Human Rights Laws – Each Other

‘The attorney general, Geoffrey Cox QC, has been tipped to lead a new government commission tasked with updating human rights laws and reforming the judiciary.’

Full Story

Each Other, 12th February 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

New Judgment: A Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland of devolution issues to the Supreme Court pursuant to Paragraph 34 of Schedule 10 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 [2020] UKSC 2 – UKSC Blog

‘This appeal arose as a result of an application made by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Act 1998, Schedule 10 paragraph 34. Paragraph 34 provides that the Attorney General may refer to the Supreme Court any devolution issue which is not the subject of proceedings. A devolution issue includes a question whether a purported exercise of a function by a Northern Ireland Department is or would be invalid by reason the 1998 Act, s.24. S. 24(1)(a) provides that a Department of Northern Ireland has no power to make, confirm or approve any subordinate legislation, or to do any act, so far as the legislation or act is incompatible with any of the rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.’

Full Story

UKSC Blog, 5th February 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

Reynhard Sinaga: Attorney general to review rapist’s’ sentence – BBC News

Posted January 16th, 2020 in appeals, attorney general, Crown Prosecution Service, news, rape, sentencing by sally

‘A man jailed for 136 rapes could have his sentence increased after his case was referred to the Attorney General.’

Full Story

BBC News, 15th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Solicitor General’s speech at Cambridge Symposium on Economic Crime 2019 – Attorney General’s Office

‘The Solicitor General discusses some of the UK’s key successes in tackling economic crime and the UK government’s ambitious Economic Crime Plan.’

Full speech

Attorney General’s Office, 2nd September 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Attorneys General lead international cooperation to combat cybercrime – Attorney General’s Office

‘Five Attorneys General from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have today formalised their international cooperation in the fight against cybercrime.’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 31st July 2019

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

MPs demand prosecutors reverse ‘covert change’ causing plummeting rape charges – The Independent

‘MPs are calling on authorities to reverse a “covert change in policy” on rape cases amid plummeting prosecutions. Only 1.7 per cent of rapes reported to police in England and Wales now result in a charge, and victims have accused authorities of “decriminalising” sex attacks.’

Full Story

The Independent, 23rd June 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tommy Robinson to face fresh contempt of court proceedings – The Guardian

‘The former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson is facing a fresh hearing over allegations that he committed contempt of court by allegedly filming people involved in a criminal trial and broadcasting footage on social media.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 7th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Creating a ‘zero tolerance’ culture for disclosure failings across the criminal justice system – Attorney General’s Office

Posted November 15th, 2018 in attorney general, criminal justice, disclosure, news by tracey

‘The Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox QC MP, has today published the Government’s Review of the efficiency and effectiveness of disclosure in the criminal justice system.’

Full review

Attorney General’s Office, 15th November 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Slight fall in number of sentences revised up in 2017 after complaints – The Guardian

Posted August 6th, 2018 in appeals, attorney general, news, sentencing, statistics by sally

‘Rapists and killers were among 137 people given tougher penalties after complaints that their original sentences were too lenient last year, official figures for England and Wales show.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 6th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com