Secret court procedure used in African terror suspect case – Daily Telegraph

“Controversial powers to hold court cases in secret have been used to conceal the possible involvement of British intelligence agents in apprehending terror suspects in Africa.”

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Daily Telegraph, 27th June 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Taking stock after Abu Qatada: Assurances, secret detention and evidence in closed proceedings – UK Human Rights Blog

“The Court of Appeal recently issued its judgment in XX v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWCA Civ 742, an appeal from a decision of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (‘SIAC’) upholding the Secretary of State’s decision to deport an Ethiopian national on grounds of national security.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 24th June 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Secret court plans ‘address genuine problem in disproportionate way’ – The Guardian

Posted June 20th, 2012 in closed material, news, private hearings, terrorism by sally

“Plans to extend secret court hearings address genuine problems of national security but also contain elements of “overkill”, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation has warned.”

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The Guardian, 19th June 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Terror watchdog warns of wave of compensation claims over drone strikes – Daily Telegraph

“Britain is facing a wave of compensation claims for allegedly helping the US target drones strikes abroad, the terror watchdog warned yesterday.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th June 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Secret courts bill under attack as House of Lords prepares for second reading – The Guardian

“Plans for secret hearings in civil courts being put before parliament on Tuesday ‘offend the principle of open justice’, a prominent Conservative MP has warned the government.”

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The Guardian, 18th June 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ministers not judges will decide secret hearings, experts warn – Daily Telegraph

“Ministers will still be able to dictate whether court cases are heard in secret despite assurances that judges would have the final say, a group of expert lawyers have warned.”

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Daily Telegraph, 15th June 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Secret courts, drones and international law – BBC Law in Action

Posted June 6th, 2012 in closed material, international law, news, private hearings, weapons by sally

“In the first of a new series Joshua Rozenberg talks to Sir Daniel Bethlehem the former principal legal advisor at the Foreign Office. He asks him about the changing face of international law and its effect on the making of foreign policy, including the rise in litigation against the government on foreign matters. He also asks about international law and the use of drones, and the government’s Justice and Security bill and why Sir Daniel thinks the measures laid out there are necessary.”

Listen

BBC Law in Action, 5th June 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Criticisms remain as dust settles on secret trials bill – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted June 6th, 2012 in bills, closed material, human rights, news, private hearings by sally

“In stark contrast to the pageantry surrounding the Royal Jubilee, here is a somewhat sombre update on the Justice and Security Bill, which was published on 28 May 2012 and is currently receiving its second reading in the House of Lords. The Bill aims to introduce Close Material Procedures, that is secret hearings, into civil trials.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 5th June 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Justice and Security Bill: The Government is not for turning – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 30th, 2012 in bills, closed material, inquests, judiciary, news, private hearings by tracey

“Publishing the Justice and Security Bill this morning, the Secretary of State for Justice said ‘I  have used the last few months to listen to the concerns of … civil liberties campaigners with whom I usually agree.’ There are many people who today would sorely like to agree that Ken has listened and has taken their concerns on board. Unfortunately, the Government’s analysis remains fundamentally flawed. The Green Paper was clearly a ‘big ask’. There have undoubtedly been significant changes made from the proposals in the Green Paper. However, the secret justice proposals in the Justice and Security Bill remain fundamentally unfair, unnecessary and unjustified.”

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Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Secret courts bill U-turn fails to silence critics – The Guardian

Posted May 30th, 2012 in bills, closed material, intelligence services, news, private hearings by tracey

“Civil rights groups have condemned the justice and security bill, despite a series of government concessions over secret courts.”

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The Guardian, 29th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Civil cases to hear secret evidence but not inquests – Daily Telegraph

“Evidence deemed sensitive to national security by judges will be heard behind closed doors in a controversial move that will make legal history. The Justice Secretary will make a ‘substantial’ climbdown, however, by excluding inquests from the new powers following widespread concerns about secret justice.”

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Daily Telegraph, 29th May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Pssst… no secret hearings in naturalisation cases – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 22nd, 2012 in closed material, immigration, news, private hearings by sally

“Secrecy and secret justice are rarely out of the public eye. The Queen’s speech included plans to allow secret hearings in civil claims, at a time when their use is highly controversial. The government argues they are necessary to safeguard national security. Civil liberties groups and even the Special Advocates who help administer them, regard them as a bar to real justice and fair hearings.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

A secret justice climb down? Perhaps not – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 21st, 2012 in bills, closed material, judiciary, news, private hearings, public interest by sally

“It appears that the Government has climbed down, in part, from some of its controversial secret justice proposals. According to the Telegraph, the Justice and Security Bill, which will be published this week, will include a provision whereby judges, not the Government, has the final say on whether a Closed Material Procedure (CMP) is used. Moreover, CMPs will be restricted to ‘national security cases’ rather than any case ‘in the public interest’.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 21st May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Judges to decide on secret evidence as Clarke pushes ahead with plans – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 21st, 2012 in bills, closed material, judiciary, news, private hearings, public interest by sally

“Judges will decide whether national security evidence can be heard in secret in a partial climbdown on plans to be unveiled by Kenneth Clarke this week.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Government’s intelligence sharing agreements with US should be protected by secret material in drone strike case – UK Human Rights Blog

“A High Court judge has raised the prospect that national security implications may necessitate the closed material procedure (CMP) in a case being brought against the Foreign Office by the son of a drone strike victim, the Telegraph reports today.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 1st May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Secret justice may be needed to hear ‘important’ drone case, judge suggests – Daily Telegraph

“Secret justice proposals may be needed in an ‘important’ case about the Government’s intelligence-sharing agreements with the US, a senior judge has suggested for the first time.”

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Daily Telegraph, 30th April 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Supergrass deals let 150 criminals walk free in secret – Daily Telegraph

“More than 150 criminals, potentially including terrorists, have been secretly given immunity from prosecution or discounted sentences for becoming supergrasses.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th April 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Secret evidence proposals – time to reflect – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted April 11th, 2012 in closed material, damages, evidence, news, private hearings by sally

“On 19 October 2011 the Government’s published its proposals to extend closed procedures, as set out in its Justice and Security Green Paper (and covered by the post on this blog).”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th April 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

How will we even know a closed judgment exists? – The Guardian

“What proposals for closed hearings would mean for press freedom.”

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The Guardian, 4th April 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Secret court hearings: Q&A – Daily Telegraph

“Ken Clarke wants to allow evidence to be heard in secret where it would compromise national security. Here we explain why there is such controversy over the Government’s plan to hold some court cases and inquests behind closed doors.”

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Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk