Court interpreting criticised as ‘wholly inadequate’ in damning NAO report – The Guardian

Posted September 13th, 2012 in courts, interpreters, news, reports by tracey

“The Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) privatisation of court interpreting services became ‘fully operational before it was ready’ and was initially ‘wholly inadequate’, according to a highly critical report by the National Audit Office.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

A bluffer’s guide to human rights courts – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 11th, 2012 in courts, human rights, news by tracey

“Back to basics, then, as the new academic year starts. Which courts decide human rights cases, when, and by what rules?.”

Full  story

UK Human Rights Blog, 10th September 2012

Source: www.www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Ken Clarke’s weekend court plans in tatters as lawyers object – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 28th, 2012 in courts, legal profession, news, pilot schemes by tracey

“The Coalition’s plans to speed up the courts system are in tatters as lawyers   across the country refuse to sit at weekends.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 28th August 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Secret court proposals compared to superinjunctions – The Guardian

Posted August 20th, 2012 in closed material, courts, injunctions, intelligence services, news by sally

“The government’s plan to establish a new generation of secret courts has sparked fresh controversy after it emerged that the fact that a hearing is to be held behind closed doors may itself be kept secret.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court interpreter checks ‘non-existent’ – BBC News

Posted August 9th, 2012 in courts, interpreters, news by sally

“Interpreters from a private company have been working in courts in England and Wales without the required criminal record checks, the BBC has been told.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th August 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord Chief Justice’s Report laid before House of Lords – Judiciary of England and Wales

“The latest Lord Chief Justice’s Report has been laid before the House of Lords.”

Full story

Judiciary of England and Wales, 3rd August 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Court does not clear up confusion over ‘deficient’ legislation, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

“A recent High Court decision which appears to confirm that the failure to serve notice of intention to appoint an administrator on the relevant company does not invalidate the appointment leaves unanswered questions, a restructuring law expert has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 6th August 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Olympics fast-track court at Stratford magistrates – The Guardian

Posted August 2nd, 2012 in courts, fines, news, public order, racism, sale of goods, sport, trials by sally

“Duncan Campbell reports from the east London court for the first conviction of a racially aggravated offence at the Games.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Religious no-go area for the courts with their “costly crudities” – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted July 23rd, 2012 in courts, dispute resolution, judiciary, news, trusts by tracey

“Khaira v. Shergill [2012] EWCA Civ 893 – We have become used to the courts getting involved, more or less willingly, in religious issues, not least where religious freedoms conflict with legal rules which are said to be inconsistent with the exercise of those freedoms. But as Adam Wagner pointed out, in an earlier round of this litigation concerning two Sikh places of worship (Gurdwaras), the courts have developed rules stopping themselves from deciding certain cases, not least because the courts recognise they don’t know what they are doing once they get themselves immersed in issues of religious doctrine.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd July 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

High Court criticises Mr Loophole for ‘sharp practice’ in speeding case – The Independent

Posted July 23rd, 2012 in courts, news, road traffic offences, solicitors by tracey

” The man known as Mr Loophole – one of the country’s highest-profile lawyers – has been condemned for ‘sharp practice’ by the High Court.”

Full story

The Independent, 21st July 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MPs to investigate ‘underperforming’ firm awarded £300m court monopoly – The Guardian

Posted July 20th, 2012 in contracts, courts, interpreters, news by tracey

“The way in which a private contractor was awarded a £300m monopoly of court interpreting services throughout England and Wales and the firm’s ‘underperformance’ are to be investigated by MPs.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Virtual courts: more speed, less justice? – The Guardian

Posted July 18th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, legal services, news, video recordings by tracey

“No one wants delay or waste in the criminal justice system, but the plans for virtual and flexible courts don’t look fair or efficient.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government outlines plans for better IT use in courts system – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 16th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, guilty pleas, news by sally

“The Government has outlined plans for improving the technology used by police and the courts system to make judicial processes faster and more efficient. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said that past investments cost too much and under-performed.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 16th July 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Criminal Justice Minister Nick Herbert says justice ‘must be swift, sure and seen to be done, or it’s not done at all’ – The Independent

Posted July 16th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, delay, news by sally

“The criminal justice system can be opaque, impenetrable, too concerned with defendants and too little concerned about victims, Nick Herbert said today (13 July).”

Full story

The Independent, 13th July 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government outlines plans for fast-track justice – The Guardian

“‘Flash incarceration’ of offenders who breach court orders, widespread naming online of those convicted, more witnesses giving evidence via videolink and Sunday court sittings are among measures outlined in government plans to speed up justice.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Creating a swift and sure criminal justice system – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 13th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, delay, news by sally

“Far-reaching plans to reform the criminal justice system by reducing delays, tackling waste and overhauling unnecessarily bureaucratic systems were launched today by Criminal Justice Minister Nick Herbert.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 13th July 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Lawyers decry government plans for ‘flexible courts’ to speed up justice – The Guardian

“Plans to overhaul the court system to hold evening and weekend hearings, first introduced at the height of last summer’s riots and now being deployed for the Olympics, have met strong opposition from lawyers being forced to work longer hours.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Courts should take note of Strasbourg’s doctrine of deference – UK Human Rights Blog

“This case about prisoner’s pay provides an interesting up to date analysis of the role of the doctrine of ‘margin of appreciation’ and its applicability in domestic courts.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 6th July 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Courts unprepared for Olympics, warns top solicitor – The Guardian

Posted July 5th, 2012 in courts, criminal justice, news, sport by sally

“A leading solicitor has expressed concern that London courts are ‘creaking’ and may not be able to cope with the additional pressures that arise during the Olympics – when some courts will be holding fewer sittings.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unified Patent Court split between Paris, London and Munich – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2012 in courts, EC law, news, patent attorneys, patents by sally

“After years of wrangling, European Council announces where EU-wide patent applications will be heard.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk