Judiciary must speak out on ‘parlous state of family law’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 17th, 2009 in children, family courts, judiciary, news by sally

“The judiciary must ‘come off the bench’ and speak out about the ‘parlous state of family law in 2009’, lord justice Wall has said.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 17th December 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Written evidence on judicial fees and salaries – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 2nd, 2009 in fees, judiciary, press releases, remuneration by sally

“Tables showing judicial salaries and fees, following the government’s decision about the level of pay for legally qualified tribunals judiciary.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 1st December 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

“A Judiciary of the 21st Century” – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted November 30th, 2009 in judiciary, special report by sally

“Report of the Judicial Diversity Conference ‘A Judiciary of the 21st Century, ‘ held on 11March 2009.”

Full report

Judiciary of England and Wales, 27th November 2009

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Now the expenses spotlight falls on Britain’s judiciary – The Independent

Posted November 23rd, 2009 in expenses, judiciary, news by sally

“Expenses claims by judges and magistrates have risen by £3m in the last two years, according to figures obtained by The Independent under the Freedom of Information Act.”

Full story

The Independent, 23rd November 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Anger at ‘cloak of secrecy’ for Freemason judges – The Independent

Posted November 11th, 2009 in judiciary, news by sally

“Jack Straw’s decision to no longer force applicants for the judiciary to declare if they are Freemasons was today branded a ‘disgrace’ by a Labour MP.”

Full story

The Independent, 10th November 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Michel v The Queen – WLR Daily

Posted November 5th, 2009 in bias, Jersey, judiciary, law reports by sally

Michel v The Queen [2009] UKPC 40; [2009] WLR (D) 312

“A defendant’s right to a fair trial was absolute and he was entitled to explain his case, however improbable, without constantly being subjected to the judge’s sarcasm and hostility. When the impropriety of a judge’s interventions and interruptions in a trial were so extreme as to render the trial unfair, an appeal court had no alternative but to set the conviction aside even when the evidence against the defendant was overwhelming.”

WLR Daily, 4th November 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Regina v I (C) and others – WLR Daily

Posted August 27th, 2009 in case management, judiciary, law reports, recusal by sally

Regina v I (C) and others; [2009] WLR (D) 286

“A judge who had conducted the case management of a long or complex case, whether or not as a preparatory hearing, had to conduct the trial in that case unless there were sufficiently compelling cause to depart from that rule.”

WLR Daily, 26th August 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Judge makes plea for fewer laws – BBC News

Posted July 15th, 2009 in judiciary, news, parliament by sally

“The most senior judge in England and Wales has criticised the government for passing too many crime laws.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th July 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Speech at Lord Mayor’s Annual Judges’ Dinner – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 15th, 2009 in constitutional reform, judiciary, speeches by sally

“This speech is a good opportunity to take stock – four years after the Constitutional Reform Act fundamentally changed the relationship between the judiciary and the Executive, and a matter of months before the UK Supreme Court opens, heralding a new era in the separation of powers.”

Full speech

Ministry of Justice, 14th July 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Judges to work overtime as cuts and delays put justice at risk – The Times

Posted July 10th, 2009 in courts, judiciary, news, working time by sally

“Courts face having to sit for an extra two hours a day as they struggle with rising workloads coupled with an unprecedented drive to cut costs.”

Full story

The Times, 10th July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Cost of judges’ pensions has more than doubled in past five years – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 7th, 2009 in judiciary, news, pensions by sally

“Figures put before Parliament by the Treasury show that the judicial pension pot rose from £62 million in the financial year 2004/5 to £131m last year.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th July 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Names of judges found guilty of misconduct to stay secret – The Guardian

“The government and the judiciary can continue to conceal the names of more than 170 misbehaving judges, a freedom of information tribunal has ruled.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th June 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Solicitors believe judicial appointments ‘not for me’, JAC research finds – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 5th, 2009 in judiciary, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

“Official research published today reveals a ‘widespread and underlying perception’ of ‘inherent prejudice’ in the judicial application process and suggests that solicitors still see the bench as a career for ‘other people’.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 4th June 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge selection still perceived as unfair – The Times

Posted June 4th, 2009 in judiciary, legal profession, news by sally

“Perceptions of unfairnness and prejudice in the selection of judges still widely persist, three years after a new body was set up to modernise the system.”

Full story

The Times, 4th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Moving faster to a more diverse judiciary – Ministry of Justice

Posted April 29th, 2009 in judiciary, minorities, news by sally

“Lord Chancellor Jack Straw today announced the establishment of an Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity with Baroness Julia Neuberger as its Chair.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 28th April 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Quota system may be considered for judges – The Independent

Posted April 29th, 2009 in judiciary, minorities, news by sally

“Quotas for ethnic minority and women judges could be part of new proposals aimed at improving ‘diversity’ in the judiciary. Baroness Julia Neuberger, a government adviser, said she wanted to remove ‘blockages’ faced by applicants for judicial posts and make judges more representative of society.”

Full story

The Independent, 29th April 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judges look to the lords over strict curb on sentencing powers – The Times

Posted April 16th, 2009 in judiciary, news, sentencing by sally

“The judges are up in arms over changes to the justice system, says Judge Isobel Plumstead, of the Council of Circuit Judges.”

Full story

The Times, 16th April 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Cost of accommodation for High Court judges – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 6th, 2009 in judiciary, news by sally

“Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed that accommodation for High Court judges is costing taxpayers £5.5 million a year.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judges fail in Tribunal bid to extend working lives beyond 70 – The Times

Posted March 27th, 2009 in judiciary, news, retirement by sally

“Two judges fighting to work beyond the age of 70 have lost their case, the Tribunals Service has said. ”

Full story

The Times, 26th March 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Objection! Judges reject new robes – The Independent

Posted March 27th, 2009 in court dress, judiciary, news by sally

“The English judiciary has long been regarded as a bastion of conservative mores and sartorial continuity. So when, 10 months ago, former designer of the year Betty Jackson ripped up 300 years of tradition by introducing a new robe for some of England’s most trenchant legal minds, her chutzpah raised eyebrows far beyond the High Court.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th March 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk