Backlog of adult rape cases in courts in England and Wales hits record high – The Guardian

‘The backlog of adult rape cases in crown courts in England and Wales has risen to almost four times the level it was in 2019.’

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The Guardian, 29th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

What is the Tipstaff and what is their role? – Family Law

Posted June 30th, 2023 in child abduction, children, courts, families, family courts, news by tracey

‘The Tipstaff is often one of the first topics of discussion raised by new clients who have been accused of abducting their children. Questions that I am regularly asked are “What is the Tipstaff?” “What is their role in my case?” “Why did they send the police to visit me?” and “why do I have to provide them with my passports?” ‘

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Family Law, 26th June 2023

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Public confidence in justice system at risk due to delayed reforms, MPs warn – The Independent

Posted June 30th, 2023 in budgets, civil justice, courts, criminal justice, delay, HM Courts Service, news, victims by tracey

‘Public confidence in the justice system is at risk of being undermined by the courts and tribunals service amid delays to key reforms, MPs have warned in a scathing report.’

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The Independent, 30th June 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Most magistrates courts in England and Wales have accessibility failings – The Guardian

‘Three-quarters of magistrates courts in England and Wales are inadequately accessible for people with disabilities, with a lack of ramps, inaccessible toilets and non-functioning hearing loops all featuring as failings.’

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The Guardian, 19th June 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Role of Lord Chancellor “at risk of being downgraded” – Legal Futures

Posted June 15th, 2023 in budgets, courts, delay, lord chancellor, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘The role of Lord Chancellor is “at risk of being downgraded” because the operation of the courts is now “only a very small part” of what the office-holder does, the Lord Chief Justice (LCJ) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 15th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MoJ sets up online procedure rule committee for Civil, Family and Tribunal jurisdictions – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a new committee to help guide judges, legal representatives and litigants through online court procedures.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Why The Magistrates Courts Aren’t Working – Each Other

Posted May 23rd, 2023 in courts, criminal justice, diversity, magistrates, news by sally

‘In 2022, the Criminal Bar Association voted to undertake industrial action, bringing the dire state of much of the criminal justice system into the public eye. Following successive cuts by the government, among the issues were unusable court buildings, including broken toilets, leaking ceilings and malfunctioning heating systems, and the dismal remuneration received by barristers – barristers who are tasked with working on the most serious cases across the Crown Courts.’

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Each Other, 19th May 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

Court photography ban under review in transparency drive – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A ban imposed nearly 100 years ago on photography in courts could be lifted under ideas being floated by the government to make the justice system more transparent.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th May 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Court delays: Slow justice meant second woman attacked by violent man – BBC News

Posted April 20th, 2023 in courts, criminal justice, delay, domestic violence, news, victims by sally

‘A mother who was subjected to an attack by her violent ex-partner said charging and trial delays left him free to attack a second woman. Speaking to the BBC, Elizabeth Hudson said the backlog of crown court cases was causing misery and distress for many victims.’

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BBC News, 20th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Call to name courts with biggest backlogs – Legal Futures

Posted March 28th, 2023 in courts, criminal justice, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, reports, statistics by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) must publish data on the backlogs of individual criminal courts, a group that campaigns to improve public data has said.’

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Legal Futures, 28th March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court lifts automatic suspension in procurement dispute over provision of audio-visual equipment to courts and tribunals – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 14th, 2023 in competition, contracts, courts, limitations, news, public procurement, tenders by sally

‘The Secretary of State for Justice (SoSJ) has successfully applied to the High Court for the lifting of the automatic suspension in a procurement challenge to the outcome of a mini-competition for a call-off contract relating to the provision of digital and audiovisual (‘AV’) equipment for use by HM Courts and Tribunals Service.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Nightingale Courts to remain open to boost capacity and speed up justice – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 17th, 2023 in courts, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by tracey

‘Nightingale Courts across England and Wales are being kept open for another year to reduce waiting times and deliver swift justice for victims.’

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Ministry of Justice, 17th February 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

A quarter of listed cases not published by National Archives – Legal Futures

Posted January 24th, 2023 in archives, courts, delay, internet, judgments, law reports, news, reports by sally

‘The National Archives (TNA), which took over as the immediate online publisher of senior court judgments last year, failed to publish judgments in over a quarter of cases in its first three months of operation, a report has found.’

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Legal Futures, 24th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ministry of Justice to launch call for evidence on open justice – Legal Futures

Posted January 17th, 2023 in courts, electronic filing, media, Ministry of Justice, news, remote hearings, tribunals by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is to launch a “wide-ranging” call for evidence on open justice, access to information and transparency across the courts and tribunals.’

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Legal Futures, 17th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Members of the Traveller community visit the Old Bailey – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

Posted January 9th, 2023 in courts, news, travellers by tracey

‘At the end of November 2022, HHJ Dafna Spiro, a Diversity and Community Relations Judge (DCRJ), and HHJ Angela Rafferty KC hosted a group of young people from the Traveller community at the Old Bailey. Planning for the trip began back in May 2022, with HHJ Beccy Trowler KC and June Warwick also playing a key role. HHJ Spiro and HHJ Rafferty were joined by June, a barrister at Rose Court Chambers, herself from the Traveller community. Six young people joined the visit, accompanied by three adults from Friends, Families & Travellers (FFT), a charity that works to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people.’

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Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 5th January 2023

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Poor state of English and Welsh courts worsening backlog, says Law Society – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2022 in courts, delay, Law Society, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Broken heating, sewage, mould, asbestos and leaking toilets and roofs are among the problems encountered by solicitors in courts in England and Wales, a survey by the Law Society has found.’

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The Guardian, 19th December 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Message from the Lord Chief Justice and Senior President of Tribunals – Modes of address in courts and tribunals – Courts & Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 2nd, 2022 in courts, judges, judiciary, news by tracey

‘We are today announcing a change in the practice of how certain Judges are addressed in court. From now on, the Judges listed below should be addressed in court or tribunal hearings as “Judge.”’

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Courts & Tribunals Judiciary, 1st December 2022

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Travel and childcare costs ‘stopping domestic abuse victims getting to court’ – The Independent

‘The cost-of-living crisis is increasingly being used as justification for domestic abuse while some victims are unable to afford to get to court to obtain protection, a charity has warned.’

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The Independent, 24th October 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Construction begins on brand new flagship London court in the Square Mile – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 21st, 2022 in computer crime, courts, fraud, London, Ministry of Justice, money laundering, news by tracey

‘The construction of a state-of-the-art combined court is underway in the heart of London’s legal centre as part of Salisbury Square, a new development on Fleet Street.’

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Ministry of Justice, 18th October 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Lord Hodge, Guildhall Lecture – Supreme Court

‘Lord Hodge, Guildhall Lecture – The Rule of Law, the Courts and the British Economy.’

Full speech

Supreme Court, 4th October 2022

Source: www.supremecourt.uk