Magistrates resign over court charges that encourage innocent to plead guilty – The Guardian

Posted August 3rd, 2015 in benefits, courts, criminal justice, guilty pleas, magistrates, news, penalties by sally

‘Magistrates have begun to resign in protest at punitive court charges of up to £1,200 that they claim can never be collected and encourage the innocent to plead guilty.’
Full story

The Guardian, 31st July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Street skaters may find their latest moves land them in court – but they are fighting back – The Independent

‘Campaigners claim Public Space Protection Orders are ‘criminalising young people just for being young’.’
Full story

The Independent, 1st August 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Denying prisoners legal aid may be illegal, appeal court rules – The Guardian

Posted July 29th, 2015 in criminal justice, legal aid, news, prisons by sally

‘Denying prisoners in England and Wales legal aid so they can effectively challenge the conditions under which they are held could be illegal, the court of appeal has ruled.’

Full story

The Guardian, 28th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Courts on Trial – BBC Law in Action

Posted July 24th, 2015 in civil justice, criminal justice, judiciary, news by sally

‘The “creaking and outdated” justice system in England and Wales is failing society’s poorest, Michael Gove argued this week.

In his first speech since becoming Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, he said that the best legal provision is the preserve of the wealthy, while victims of crime are “badly” let down. Mr Gove also said that the case for change had been “made most powerfully and clearly by the judiciary themselves”.

In this special edition of Law in Action, the Lord Chief Justice gives his reaction to Michael Gove’s speech.’

Listen

BBC Law in Action, 23rd July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Speech by Lord Chief Justice: Dinner for Her Majesty’s Judges – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by The Right Hon. The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 9th July 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Gove promises action on criminal referral fees – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The lord chancellor is to crack down on the banned practice of referral fees in criminal proceedings.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th July 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Magistrate courts and police stations could face ‘absolute chaos’ amid boycott of legal aid work – The Independent

Posted July 1st, 2015 in barristers, criminal justice, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘Magistrates courts and police stations across England and Wales could face “absolute chaos” as the effects of a widespread boycott of new legal aid work kicks in.’

Full story

The Independent, 30th June 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lawyers to refuse criminal cases in protest against cuts in legal aid fees – The Guardian

‘Solicitors and barristers in Liverpool are threatening to refuse to handle any new criminal cases from 1 July, as lawyers across the country meet to coordinate protests against cuts in legal aid fees.’

Full story

The Guardian, 25th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gove is right on our two-tier justice system – but cuts caused this crisis – The Guardian

‘We must modernise our courts but that won’t address the fact that those who need it most are failed by the system. Only investment can redress the balance.’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

What does a one nation justice policy look like? – Speech by Michael Gove

Posted June 23rd, 2015 in civil justice, criminal justice, pro bono work, rule of law, speeches by tracey

‘Speech given at the Legatum Institute.’

Full speech

Ministry of Justice, 23rd June 2015

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

Courts set for vulnerable witness reform – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 23rd, 2015 in children, consultations, courts, criminal justice, news, witnesses by tracey

‘The “fundamental architecture” for modernising the way in which the family courts deal with vulnerable people could be introduced before the end of the year.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd June 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Justice system badly failing most users, says Michael Gove – The Guardian

Posted June 23rd, 2015 in courts, criminal justice, delay, news by tracey

‘Britain’s justice system is badly failing most people who use courts while providing a gold standard of service to the wealthy, according to the justice secretary, Michael Gove.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal solicitors berate bar retreat – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Solicitors accused the criminal bar of selling out to a government policy of ‘divide and rule’ as the Gazette went to press, after the bar ditched plans to take direct action over cuts to legal aid.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd June 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Coroner in SAS inquest blocks release of witness statements – The Guardian

‘A coroner hearing the inquest of three men who suffered fatal heat illness during an SAS training march in south Wales has refused to allow the release of witness statements, concluding that their publication could threaten any future criminal prosecutions. The Guardian and other media organisations argued that in the interest of open justice, statements taken by detectives investigating the tragedy on the Brecon Beacons and provided to the inquest should be released to allow the proceedings to be reported fully.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Defendants should be allowed to waive their right to trial by jury – The Guardian

Posted June 19th, 2015 in appeals, criminal justice, juries, news, trials by tracey

‘The UK criminal justice system needs to do more with less. Sir Brian Leveson’s recommendations would introduce some sensible flexibility to it.’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal law changes – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Offender Rehabilitation Act

This act came into force on 1 February 2015 for sentences imposed on or after that date. This is important for any defendant who receives a sentence of more than one day but less than two years, and who is over 18 on the day of their release. They will now be required to spend a total of one year either on licence or on supervision under the provisions introduced by this statute (section 256AA of the Criminal Justice Act 2003).’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 15th June 2015

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

FIFA and the internationalisation of criminal justice – OUP Blog

‘The factual backdrop to this affair is well-known. FIFA, world football’s governing body has, for a number of years, been the subject of allegations of corruption. Then, after a series of dawn raids on 27 May 2015, seven FIFA officials, of various nationalities, the most famous being Jack Warner, the Trinidadian former vice president of FIFA, were arrested in a luxury hotel in Zurich where they were staying prior to the FIFA Congress. This was pursuant to an indictment that accused them, alongside five corporate officials, of using their positions within FIFA to engage in schemes involving the solicitation, offer, acceptance, payment, and receipt of undisclosed and illegal payments, bribes, and kickbacks. The defendants and their co-conspirators were also accused of corrupting the enterprise by engaging in various criminal activities, including fraud, bribery, and money laundering, in pursuit of personal and commercial gain.’

Full story

OUP Blog, 29th May 2015

Source: http://blog.oup.com

Reporting Restrictions in the Criminal Courts – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘A fourth updated set of guidelines on open justice and reporting restrictions in the criminal courts is published today by the Judicial College, News Media Association (NMA), Society of Editors and the Media Lawyers Association. The new edition covers the new reporting restrictions applying to under 18 year olds, which came into force last month, the Female Genital Mutilation anonymity provisions which came into force this month and other changes relevant to reporting the work of the criminal courts.’

Full story

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 6th May 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Stalking victim warns of legal loophole – BBC News

Posted April 30th, 2015 in civil justice, criminal justice, defamation, harassment, news, stalking, victims by sally

‘Stalkers must be stopped from using a loophole in the legal system to harass their targets, a victim has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 29th April 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Critics of Lord Janner decision misunderstand justice system – The Guardian

‘The creation of the Crown Prosecution Service nearly 30 years ago was pretty traumatic for the police. I remember it well and wrote a book about it at the time. Overnight, detectives lost the power to decide what charges should be brought against people they had arrested. Instead, the director of public prosecutions — whose remit had been confined to cases of “importance or difficulty” for the previous 100 years — took responsibility in 1986 for most public prosecutions across England and Wales.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd April 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk