Are professional judges better than lay magistrates? – The Guardian
“A Ministry of Justice report suggests the difference is less than some imagine.”
The Guardian, 17th November 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Category: magistrates
Court workers opposed to extended opening hours – Law Society’s Gazette
“The union representing court workers has voiced opposition to justice secretary Kenneth Clarke’s wish to extend opening hours.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd November 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Appeal court riot ruling is firm but fair – The Guardian
“Severe punishment for those taking part in public disorder is right, as a matter of law and of common sense.”
The Guardian, 18th October 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Analysis: Laying down the law on riots – BBC News
“If we know one thing for certain about the England riots, it’s that the public have been urging the courts to dish out some serious punishment.”
BBC News, 18th October 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Kenneth Clarke suffers setback over sentencing rules for magistrates – The Guardian
“Magistrates’ powers to sentence offenders to up to 12 months in prison are to be retained following a climbdown by the Ministry of Justice in the wake of the summer riots.”
The Guardian, 7th October 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Call to extend court opening hours – The Independent
“Justice minister Nick Herbert today called for magistrates’ courts to be opened during the night and at weekends.”
The Independent, 9th October 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Magistrates were told to send rioters to crown court, emails show – The Guardian
“Magistrates were urged to abandon sentencing guidelines when dealing with rioters last month because ‘nothing like this was envisaged’, according to court documents released to the Guardian. The text of two controversial emails circulated to justices’ clerks immediately after August’s disturbances raises questions about judicial independence and the use of blanket guidance irrespective of individual cases. One human rights group described the emails as ‘disturbing’.”
The Guardian, 14th September 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Attorney general at odds with Ken Clarke over magistrates’ powers – The Guardian
“The attorney general has put himself at odds with the justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, by suggesting that increasing the sentencing powers of magistrates would make courts more efficient.”
The Guardian, 7th September 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Magistrates deny riots ‘sentencing frenzy’ – The Guardian
“Magistrates have denied accusations from the president of the Prison Governors Association that there has been a ‘feeding frenzy’ of disproportionate sentencing of those convicted in the aftermath of the recent riots.”
The Guardian, 29th August 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Recent riots and disorder – should offenders feel ‘the full force of the law’? – Legal Week
“Much controversy has been raised by the sentencing meted out to some of those charged with offences committed during the recent disorder. Many cases have already been sentenced either in the Magistrates’ Court. A lesser number of cases have been dealt with by the Crown Court. (Given the short time between committal to Crown Court and sentence, the latter would be guilty pleas).”
Legal Week, 22nd August 2011
Source: www.legalweek.com
News focus: Fast-track justice and the riots – Law Society’s Gazette
“Lawyers have recounted extraordinary scenes both of chaos and professional dedication over the past 10 days, as defence solicitors, prosecutors, magistrates and court staff worked through the night to deal with the unprecedented number of people arrested in the wake of last week’s riots across England.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 18th August 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Riots: magistrates advised to ‘disregard normal sentencing’ – The Guardian
“Magistrates are being advised by the courts service to disregard normal sentencing guidelines when dealing with those convicted of offences committed in the context of last week’s riots.”
The Guardian, 15th August 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
UK riots: Judges warned by Law Society not to hand down ‘rushed justice’ – The Guardian
“Judges and magistrates have been warned not to dispense ‘rushed justice’ after courts sat through the night to deal with hundreds of defendants charged after four days of rioting and looting in England.”
The Guardian, 12th August 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
UK riots: the list of magistrate cases and convictions so far – The Guardian
“Who is ending up in the magistrates courts accused of riot-related offences? Now includes 155 cases.”
The Guardian, 11th August 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
UK riots: in courtrooms across country, there was little room for leniency – The Guardian
“It was a day of frenzied activity in magistrates courts as the long riot cleanup entered its judicial phase.”
The Guardian, 11th August 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Related link: Magistrates work through night as arrests and convictions follow riots
Courts sit round the clock to administer fast-track justice – The Independent
“A schoolworker, a hairdresser and an Exeter university student were among the first alleged rioters to be unmasked.”
The Independent, 11th August 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Summary Justice In and Out of Court: The Police Foundation’s John Harris Memorial Lecture – Speech by Lord Judge
Summary Justice In and Out of Court: The Police Foundation’s John Harris Memorial Lecture (PDF)
Speech by Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
Judiciary of England and Wales, 8th July 2011
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Legal challenge over court closures rejected – The Guardian
“Legal challenges launched to save magistrates courts from closure following a decision last year by the lord chancellor have been rejected by the high court.”
The Guardian, 16th June 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Magistrates resign as courts close – Law Society’s Gazette
“Resignations from the magistracy have increased by 18% since the announcement of court closures, according to government figures.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 15th June 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Regina (Hope and Glory Public House Ltd) v City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court (Westminster City Council intervening) – WLR Daily
“Although an appeal to a magistrates’ court from the decision of a local authority’s licensing committee was a full rehearing on all the evidence the committee’s decision was a relevant matter to be taken into consideration and should only be reversed if the judge was satisfied that the original decision was wrong.”
WLR Daily, 27th January 2011
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.
