Coroners’ Investigations, Inquests and COVID-19 – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 30th, 2020 in coronavirus, coroners, delay, health, health & safety, human rights, inquests, news by sally

‘The following post was written on the morning of 26 of March 2020. Today, 27th of March, the Chief Coroner brought out Guidance 35 on hearings during the pandemic (no. 35), with the proviso that all these issues will be kept under review.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 26th March 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Police fine people over social distancing – BBC News

Posted March 30th, 2020 in coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, fines, health, health & safety, news, police by sally

‘Police forces in England and Wales have fined people for ignoring guidance to prevent the spread of coronavirus.’

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BBC News, 27th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Remote justice: a family perspective – Transparency Project

‘On Tuesday 17 March 2020, less than 24 hours after the Prime Minister’s announcement to the nation to avoid all non-essential contact due to COVID-19, I attended the first entirely remote hearing for the Court of Protection. I was there in a voluntary, non-official capacity to support someone I’ll call “Sarah”, whose father was at the centre of a serious medical treatment case.’

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Transparency Project, 29th March 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Majority of courts to close from Monday – Litigation Futures

Posted March 30th, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, health, health & safety, live link evidence, news, tribunals by sally

‘Fewer than half of courts and tribunals will remain open for face-to-face hearings as part of efforts to maintain a “core justice system focused on the most essential cases”, the government has announced.’

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Litigation Futures, 27th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Is Covid-19 Changing How We Think About Criminal Justice Reform? – Each Other

‘Barrister Tim Kiely examines the unexpected changes taking place within the criminal justice system amid the Covid-19 outbreak.’

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Each Other, 26th March 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Covid-19 Sample Couriers ‘Denied Face Masks’ Take Legal Action – Each Other

‘Couriers transporting Covid-19 samples across London are taking legal action against their employer over claims they are being denied hand sanitiser and face masks.’

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Each Other, 26th March 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Virtual case begins as court rejects trial on papers – Litigation Futures

‘The High Court yesterday adjourned an upcoming trial, saying that the guidance on the coronavirus pandemic did not allow it to take place on the papers.’

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Litigation Futures, 26th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Coronavirus: What Are My Employment Rights? – Each Other

Posted March 26th, 2020 in coronavirus, employment, health, health & safety, news, remuneration, sick leave by sally

‘With the UK now in coronavirus lockdown, many people will be anxious about their right to stay at home and their right to get paid. Lawyer Alex Monaco answers a selection of frequently asked questions on your employment rights.’

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Each Other, 25th March 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Lord Chancellor praises lawyers’ “heroic” efforts – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland yesterday praised lawyers for their “heroic efforts” in trying to keep trials going during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Open justice direction published for remote hearings – Litigation Futures

‘A new practice direction clarifying when civil courts may derogate from the principle of open justice to conduct hearings remotely in private has been published today.’

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Litigation Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

High court rejects call to free 736 detainees at risk from coronavirus – The Guardian

‘The high court has rejected calls to free hundreds of immigration detainees who, lawyers and human rights activists say, are at risk from Covid-19 while behind bars.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vice-President of Court of Protection issues further guidance for judges and practitioners on hearings – Local Government Lawyers

‘No hearings in the Court of Protection which require people to attend are to take place unless there is a genuine urgency and it is not possible to conduct a remote hearing, the Court’s Vice-President has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Calls to protect criminal solicitors, pupils and LPC students – Legal Futures

‘Criminal defence solicitors in London yesterday threatened to stop attending police stations and a protocol to protect pupil barristers was published among efforts to protect the profession during the coronarivus pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Coronavirus: Inmates could be freed to ease virus pressure on jails – BBC News

‘The government is considering releasing some offenders from prisons in England and Wales to ease pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic.’

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BBC News, 25th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jurors packed into crowded courts: how the government defied coronavirus advice – The Guardian

Posted March 24th, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, health, health & safety, juries, news, trials by sally

‘Trials may now be suspended in England, but forcing people to mix in cramped rooms during a coronavirus crisis was risky at best.’

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

COVID-19 and family courts: Links in one place to new arrangements – Transparency Project

‘There’s been a flurry of new guidance in response to the pandemic. We’ve gathered some useful links (with key definitions) to help families, advice workers and professionals find and use practical information more easily.’

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Transparency Project, 21st March 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Government identifies justice system’s keyworkers – Legal Futures

‘Legal professionals involved in court and tribunal hearings, as well as those advising people deprived of their liberty or on executing wills are ‘keyworkers’, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Home Office releases 300 from detention centres amid Covid-19 pandemic – The Guardian

‘The Home Office has released almost 300 people from detention centres in the last few days because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 21st March 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

ACAS issues guidance on home-working for employers and employees – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has set out the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees when working from home, in response to government advice for many workers to stay away from the office.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Self-isolating litigant in person appears via barrister’s mobile – Litigation Futures

‘A barrister has spoken of how a self-isolating defendant in a fast-track personal injury claim appeared before the court via WhatsApp video.’

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Litigation Futures, 23rd March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com