Gilham v Ministry of Justice [2019] UKSC 44 – Old Square Chambers

‘In Gilham v MOJ the Supreme Court considered the novel question whether judges are workers for the purposes of the protection against whistle blowing detriment in the Employment Rights Act 1996.’

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Old Square Chambers, 16th October 2019

Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk

AI system for granting UK visas is biased, rights groups claim – The Guardian

‘Immigrant rights campaigners have begun a ground-breaking legal case to establish how a Home Office algorithm that filters UK visa applications actually works.’

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The Guardian, 29th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hallett urges ‘zero tolerance’ on sexual harassment – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A senior judge has called on all organisations to provide a mentor for employees affected by sexual harassment or discrimination. Lady Justice Hallett told an event celebrating women in the judiciary last night that many women who qualified in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s suffered sexual assault, discrimination and being patronised, but kept their heads down and hoped eventually their abilities would be recognised. They feared, “as some women today still fear”, they would be considered a trouble maker and their careers would suffer if they reported anyone.’

Full speech

 

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Law Society's Gazette, 25th October 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Equalities watchdog ‘calls time’ on discrimination gagging orders – Daily Telegraph

‘Non-disclosure agreements must not prevent employees bringing discrimination cases against their employer, new guidance from the equalities watchdog says.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17th October 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

What Is Voter ID And Is It Discriminatory? – Rights Info

Posted October 16th, 2019 in elections, equality, human rights, identification, identity fraud, news by sally

‘The government has announced controversial plans to force voters to bring photo ID with them to the polling station. The move has drawn criticism from MPs and campaigners who believe it will undermine thousands of people’s right to vote. So what is it and what’s at stake? Jodie Satterly explores.’

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Rights Info, 16th October 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

One in four young women scared they will be sacked if they report sexual harassment, study finds – The Independent

‘One in four young women are scared they will be sacked if they report sexual harassment at work, a study has found. Carried out by the Young Women’s Trust and released on the second anniversary of the #metoo movement, the research found that just 6 per cent of young women who had been sexually harassed at work reported the misconduct.’

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The Independent, 15th October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court bid to stop LGBT lesson protests at Birmingham school starts – The Guardian

‘City council asks high court for permanent exclusion zone around Anderton Park primary.’

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The Guardian, 14th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court rules delving into women’s pension pots is not discriminatory – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 9th, 2019 in age discrimination, equality, news, notification, pensions, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘In a judgment handed down on 3rd October, the High Court has ruled that successive statutes between 1995 and 2014, which legislated to equalise the state pension age between men and women were not discriminatory. The High Court also determined that it was not a matter for the courts to conclude whether the steps taken to inform those affected by the changes in the state pension age for women were inadequate or unreasonable.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 9th October 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Healthcare-workers and transgender clients: Mackereth – Law & Religion UK

‘In Dr David Mackereth v The Department for Work and Pensions & Anor [2019] ET 1304602/2018, Dr Mackereth had been recruited by Advanced Personnel Management Group (’APM’) as a Health and Disabilities Assessor (‘HAD’) on behalf of the DWP [3]. He was contracted to assess individuals on behalf of the DWP who were contemplating, undergoing or had undergone gender reassignment. However, as a result of his Christian beliefs he refused, in conscience, to refer to clients using the pronoun of their choice – as the DWP required. It later became apparent the issue also extended to styles and titles of address [8]. He was suspended and, ultimately, sacked [17].’

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Law & Religion UK, 6th October 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Gender recognition and parenthood – Family Law

‘Jeremy Ford, a Solicitor-Advocate at Cambridge Family Law Practice, acted pro bono on behalf of the Litigation Friend for the child at the centre of the landmark case of TT v Registrar General of England and Wales and Secretary of State for Health and Social Careheard by the President of the Family Division. The judgment was handed down on 25 September 2019 and has been reported as TT, R (On the Application Of) v The Registrar General for England and Wales[2019] EWHC 2384 (Fam) (25 September 2019).’

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Family Law, 7th October 2019

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Women lose landmark High Court fight against pension changes that caused homelessness and destitution – The Independent

Posted October 3rd, 2019 in age discrimination, equality, homelessness, news, pensions, sex discrimination, women by tracey

‘Women affected by controversial adjustments made to the state pension age, which campaigners say unlawfully discriminates against women born in the 1950s, have lost their landmark High Court battle against the government.’

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The Independent, 3rd October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Aspiring barristers “not told reality of obstacles facing them” – Legal Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2019 in barristers, diversity, equality, legal education, news, pupillage, women by tracey

‘Students aspiring to careers at the Bar are not always told clearly the difficulties they will face with obtaining a pupillage and funding their studies, according to a retired High Court judge.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Christian doctor who refused to call transgender woman ‘she’ loses employment tribunal – The Independent

‘A doctor who refused to call a transgender woman “she” because of his Christian faith has lost his employment tribunal.’

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The Independent, 3rd October 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

What is a“Mother”, in law? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘A person who undergoes the physical and biological process of carrying a pregnancy and giving birth, irrespective of gender? This was the ruling of the Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew McFarlane P, President of the Family Division, on 25th September in TT, R(on the application of) v The Registrar General for England and Wales [2019] EWHC 2384 (Fam) . He decided that the Claimant, (known as “TT”), who was legally recognised as male at the time of giving birth to his child, (“YY”), is correctly registered as “mother” on YY’s birth certificate.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 30th September 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Bad behaviour by male barristers “still abounds” – Legal Futures

‘Inappropriate behaviour by male barristers in robing rooms and at Bar messes “still abounds”, the Association of Women Barristers (AWB) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 1st October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Black History Month: First black magistrate Eric Irons honoured – BBC News

Posted October 1st, 2019 in diversity, equality, magistrates, news by sally

‘A plaque is to be unveiled to commemorate the life of Britain’s first black magistrate.’

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BBC News, 1st October 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

First 100 Years podcast – An Evening in Conversation with Dame Janet Smith DBE and Dame Caroline Swift DBE – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted September 27th, 2019 in diversity, equality, gender, judges, judiciary, legal profession, podcasts, sex discrimination, women by tracey

‘Dame Janet Smith and Dame Caroline Swift can be heard in a First 100 Years podcast talking about their life on the Northern Circuit, their friendship and their distinguished judicial careers.’

Podcast

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 27th September 2019

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Widow’s fight to get partner’s name on birth certificate- BBC News

Posted September 27th, 2019 in bereavement, birth certificates, children, cohabitation, equality, families, news, paternity, widows by tracey

‘A woman whose partner died while she was pregnant has said she suffered “emotional trauma” fighting through the courts to put his name on their child’s birth certificate.’

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BBC News, 27th September 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Vegetarianism as a protected characteristic: another view on Conisbee – Law & Religion UK

Posted September 26th, 2019 in diversity, employment, employment tribunals, equality, human rights, news, vegetarianism by tracey

‘In Conisbee v Crossley Farms Ltd & Ors [2019] ET 3335357/2018, Employment Judge Postle gave a reserved judgment in which he found that the Claimant’s contention that vegetarianism could be a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 was not well-founded. The judgment has already been noted in this blog; in this supplementary post I will be focusing on the ET’s sharp distinction between vegetarianism and veganism, which it used – rashly – to find that ethical vegetarianism was incapable of constituting a religion or belief under the Equality Act 2010.’

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Law & Religion UK, 23rd September 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Trans man loses landmark court fight to be called father instead of mother on baby’s birth certificate – The Independent

‘The first transgender man to give birth has lost a landmark court battle that would have seen him become the first person in Britain to be listed as the child’s father instead of its mother after having a child.’

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The Independent, 25th September 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk