Niqabs in court: should full-face veils be banned? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

“We’re finally up against it now, aren’t we? After years of dancing round the issue, the law is finally called upon to make a specific ruling on the wearing of the niqab. So let’s make sure we know what we are talking about, because without a doubt there will be proponents and opponents alike who seek to interpret the decision (whatever it may be) to suit their cause.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 16th September 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Judge to decide if defendant can wear niqab – The Guardian

“Decision due on Monday on whether woman must show face in court or will be allowed to wear full-face veil.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Veil exposes courtroom quandary – BBC News

Posted September 13th, 2013 in courts, identification, Islam, news, pleadings, precedent, women by tracey

“Sitting in Blackfriars Crown Court in south London, I watched a very modern, multicultural dilemma. Back in August, a Muslim woman was due to appear, accused of intimidating a witness. The woman, whom the BBC isn’t naming for legal reasons, was expected to enter a plea. But Judge Peter Murphy said he could not hear that plea because he could not identify her: she was wearing a niqab, the type of black face covering worn by some Muslim women that only leaves their eyes visible.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Three’s a crowd for simple magistrates court cases, says minister – The Guardian

Posted September 11th, 2013 in cautions, courts, Crown Court, fines, magistrates, news, police, sentencing by tracey

“Chris Grayling says it is absurd that benches of three magistrates are required to rubber-stamp ‘foregone conclusions.’ ”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

On-the-spot fines are making High Streets ‘fair game’ to young criminals – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 11th, 2013 in cautions, courts, fines, magistrates, news, police, recidivists, young offenders by tracey

“Britain’s High Streets are at risk of becoming ‘fair game’ to young criminals who are ‘blighting our communities’ because they know they can escape with on-the-spot fines, the Justice Secretary warns today.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Specialist planning court proposed to boost UK business – Ministry of Justice

“A specialist planning court has been proposed by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling to help ensure crucial development projects no longer get mired in unnecessary legal delay.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 6th September 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

UK judge defends ‘demonised’ Strasbourg court – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 6th, 2013 in courts, human rights, judges, news, speeches by tracey

“Sir Nicolas Bratza, until last year president of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, said that although the court has been ‘demonised in the popular press and elsewhere as the elephant in the room, a kangaroo court and a Mickey Mouse tribunal’, the work of UK courts in applying the ECHR has been ‘exemplary.’ ”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th September 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Court failings scupper 500 cases a week – The Independent

Posted September 5th, 2013 in courts, Crown Prosecution Service, delay, news, reports, victims, witnesses by sally

“More than 500 court cases are being thrown out or delayed each week due to failings by prosecutors or in the court system, it has been claimed.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Commercial Court waiting times increase – Litigation Futures

Posted September 3rd, 2013 in Commercial Court, courts, delay, news, reports by sally

“There are lengthening delays in the Commercial Court, with the Lord Chief Justice speaking of the ‘powerful’ pressures on the civil justice system.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 3rd September 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Muslim woman must remove burka in court, judge insists – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 23rd, 2013 in courts, identification, Islam, news, women by sally

“A judge has refused to let a Muslim woman in a full-length burka enter a plea until she shows her face to the court.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Damian Green: Reforming the role of magistrates – Ministry of Justice

Posted August 15th, 2013 in courts, criminal procedure, magistrates, news, sentencing, speeches by sally

“More than 4,000 defendants each year are sent to the Crown Court for sentencing when they could be dealt with in the magistrates’ court, costing valuable money and time Justice Minister Damian Green said today.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 14th August 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Thousands fail to appear in court in Wales in 2012 – BBC News

Posted August 12th, 2013 in costs, courts, delay, freedom of information, news, statistics, Wales, warrants by sally

“Thousands of defendants failed to appear at courts in Wales last year, causing ‘significant and costly’ problems, BBC Wales has learnt.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th August 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Top judge rejects calls for specialist sex crime courts – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 7th, 2013 in child abuse, courts, cross-examination, judges, news, sexual offences, victims, witnesses by sally

“The most senior judge in England and Wales has rejected calls for specialist courts to deal with child sex abuse cases.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Culture change call for Chancery Division – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 1st, 2013 in computer programs, courts, news, reports by sally

“The Chancery Division of the High Court must undergo cultural change – and replace its ‘patchwork quilt’ of IT systems – according to the first comprehensive review of the division in 30 years.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 31st July 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The courts will not be privatised but reform is needed, Lord Chancellor and top judges declare – Litigation Futures

Posted July 26th, 2013 in courts, judges, news by sally

“The courts will not be privatised, but ways to generate more income and capital for investment are under review – as are ‘difficult decisions’ about court fees, it emerged yesterday.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 26th July 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Leicester Crown Court is ‘in crisis’ according to lawyers – BBC News

Posted July 26th, 2013 in courts, Crown Court, delay, judiciary, law firms, news by sally

“Victims of crime are being put through unnecessary extra stress because of a ‘crisis’ caused by a lack of judges at Leicester Crown Court, lawyers claim.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court of Appeal commends short rulings as way to cut “soaring costs of litigants” – Litigation Futures

Posted July 25th, 2013 in appeals, civil justice, costs, courts, judgments, news by tracey

“Short, old-style rulings that lay out the legal propositions relevant to the case and the conclusions reached by applying them should help reduce the cost litigation, the Court of Appeal has suggested.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 25th July 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Coroner’s court overhaul begins in England and Wales – BBC News

Posted July 25th, 2013 in codes of practice, coroners, courts, delay, inquests, news by tracey

“Most inquests in England and Wales will be completed within six months
under a new code of standards for coroners which has come into effect.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Putting a ring on it, Constitutional Carnage and Court Transparency – The Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 23rd, 2013 in constitutional law, courts, human rights, marriage, news by tracey

“This week, the government’s controversial legislation on same sex marriage received Royal Assent. And, as we welcome a new royal baby, less glamorous facets of the UK’s constitutional arrangements have been in the news.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd July 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The Murder Trial – Channel 4

Posted July 10th, 2013 in courts, murder, news, retrials, Scotland, video recordings by sally

“For the first time ever, remotely operated cameras have been placed inside a British criminal court to capture a murder trial in its entirety for this feature-length documentary.”

4oD

Channel 4, 9th July 2013

Source: www.channel4.com