How court trials are coping with coronavirus – BBC News
‘A pilot scheme has begun to restart jury trials in the UK after they were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.’
BBC News, 18th May 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: coronavirus
Is it really true that Covid-19 is the virus that does not discriminate? – Park Square Barristers
‘Well that is what we have repeatedly been told by politicians and various medical and scientific advisers. However, statistical evidence shows to the contrary and that if you are BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) then you are up to 4 times more likely to die after contracting the Coronavirus, making it clear that this is far from a level playing field.’
Park Square Barristers, 14th May 2020
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
Ofcom: Christian TV network aired Covid-19 conspiracies – The Guardian
‘A Christian television channel founded by a Lagos-based megachurch pastor has been sanctioned by Ofcom for airing “potentially harmful statements” about the Covid-19 pandemic, including a baseless conspiracy that the virus is linked to the rollout of 5G phone networks.’
The Guardian, 18th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Public Funds Part 2: Claiming Child Benefit – Richmond Chambers
‘In this second post, following on from Public Funds Part 1: Public Funds and Coronavirus we examine the one benefit that can potentially be claimed by migrants subject to the no recourse to public funds condition – child benefit.’
Richmond Chambers, 15th May 2020
Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk
PPE: a consideration of civil liabilities – St Philips Barristers
‘Have we ever talked so much about PPE? Each breakfast bulletin features interviews with essential workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, varyingly reporting inadequacies, shortages and faltering supply lines. When a shipment lands, it makes the news.’
St Philips Barristers, 14th May 2020
Source: st-philips.com
Safeguards over deprivations of liberty are “indispensable” to frail and vulnerable, says senior judge, amid “striking and troubling” drop in number of s.21A applications – Local Government Lawyer
‘The view that careful adherence to proper legal process and appropriate authorisation of deprivations of liberty may now, at times, be required to give way to other pressing welfare priorities is “entirely misconceived”, the Vice President of the Court of Protection has warned.’
Local Government Lawyer, 15th May 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
A2P1 and Access to Education during Covid-19 – Monckton Chambers
‘As the home-time bell rang on 20 March 2020, schools and other educational providers across the country closed their doors in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The only pupils currently permitted to attend school are vulnerable children and the children of key workers. All children, however, continue to enjoy the right to education under Article 2 of the First Protocol (A2P1) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).’
Monckton Chambers, 18th May 2020
Source: www.monckton.com
Return To Work During The Coronavirus Pandemic – Navigating Through The Employment Law Minefield – Hardwicke Chambers
‘With the recent announcement that lockdown measures are to be eased, and those who cannot work from home should return to work, we are likely to see a greater proportion of the workplace slowly return to work. The Prime Minister has announced that those in construction and manufacturing, scientific research, logistics and food production should return to work, once their employers have confirmed that it is safe for them to do so and set a “road-map” for the re-opening of shops, restaurants and other venues as well as workplace specific guidance for working safely during coronavirus.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 14th May 2020
Source: hardwicke.co.uk
A patent problem in the global antiviral race? – Counsel
‘Foreign patents could prevent UK citizens accessing treatment for COVID-19, warns Professor Mark Engelman.’
Counsel, May 2020
Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk
COVID-19, Care Homes and Contact: BP v Surrey County Council & RP – Pump Court Chambers
‘On 2 April 2020 Hayden J handed down a judgment dated 25 March 2020 in the case of BP v Surrey County council & RP [2020] EWCOP 17 concerning the suspension of contact in a care home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed by a further written judgment dated 17 April 2020 which serves to clarify the reported judgment in relation to the law of derogation: BP v Surrey County Council & RP [2020] EWCOP 22.’
Pump Court Chambers, 14th May 2020
Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com
Public Funds Part 1: Public Funds and Coronavirus – Richmond Chambers
‘No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) is a condition imposed on an individual’s immigration status in the UK, which prevents them from accessing certain benefits and forms of support. This continues to cause concern and particularly more so now for those whose income has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This article will form part of a series of 3 articles on public funds and the recent developments in light of the Coronavirus outbreak.’
Richmond Chambers, 15th May 2020
Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk
Personal Protective Equipment and Liability – Thomas More Chambers
‘Prior to the impact of the Covid19 pandemic, the issue of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) at work was a niche health and safety topic for specialists in the field. Today it dominates the media, with report after report of inadequate provision of PPE on the frontline, in hospitals, care homes and other essential places of work.’
Thomas More Chambers, 13th May 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
Ronan Cormacain: Can I go to the park please Dad? Everyday lessons in legal certainty in the English Coronavirus Regulations – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘This post analyses the changes made on 13 May 2020 to the coronavirus social distancing regulations for England. The criterion for analysis is the basic Rule of Law requirement of legal certainty. Certainty allows us to plan our actions, lets the police know what it is they should be enforcing, and most importantly stops us from inadvertently breaking the law. The very limited case-study is the question posed in many households today – can I go to the park please Dad?’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 15th May 2020
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Should Final Hearing continue remotely? Judgment of Lieven J [2020] EWHC 1086 (Fam) – Broadway House Chambers
‘ The case deals with whether to proceed with lay evidence remotely or to adjourn part heard having heard the medical evidence over a period of 5 days via Zoom. The case concerns an application for a care order for a 4 year child. In April 2019, his two month old sister died at home. The post mortem established that his sister had sustained 65 fractures to her body as well as brain injuries. As a result the child was made the subject of an interim care order in April 2019.’
Broadway House Chambers, 14th May 2020
Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk
Do our buildings make us? Covid-19 and the courts reforms – Counsel
‘Are our courts just buildings or something more? What role does the physical courtroom play? Rapid steps towards remote hearings today, while essential during the pandemic, could also inform future decisions on court closures warns Lorna Cameron.’
Counsel, May 2020
Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk
An Act for the App? Is the NHS contact app bad for your privacy? – Doughty Street Chambers
‘Following the publication last week by the Joint Committee on Human Rights of its report on the proposed NHS App and the risk of adverse effects on privacy and human rights, the Committee has drafted a Bill – the Digital Contact Tracing (Data Protection Bill) – and sent it to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock.’
Doughty Street Chambers, 12th May 2020
Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk
Wills in the time of coronavirus: law reform, statutory dispensing powers and a receipe for chili sauce – Hardwicke Chambers
‘The Law Society and the Ministry of Justice are understood to be continuing to discuss possible solutions to the difficulties of making wills during the coronavirus pandemic. Although lockdown measures are starting to loosen, concerns about the risks posed by face to face meetings and home visits are likely to persist for some time and the needs of people who are shielding, in hospital, or living in residential care, present a particular challenge when it comes to the process of making and attesting a Will.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 15th May 2020
Source: hardwicke.co.uk
First update on collective consultation: defining the triggers – Littleton Chambers
‘In the first of what is planned to be five updates on collective consultation under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, David Reade QC and Daniel Northall examine the employer’s proposal for redundancy and the start of collective consultation.’
Littleton Chambers, 11th May 2020
Source: littletonchambers.com
Contact tracing – breach of data protection? – UK Human Rights Blog
‘In the rush to lift the lockdown with safeguards, the government has given a green light to “contact tracing” via bluetooth apps on our smartphones (provided we own them and are willling to take up the app).’
UK Human Rights Blog, 15th May 20202
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
Government faces legal action over refusal to publish Sage minutes – The Guardian
‘A millionaire businessman is launching legal action against the government after it refused to disclose minutes of the Sage meetings that informed its decision to impose the coronavirus lockdown.’
The Guardian, 16th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
