Court of Appeal rejects appeal by ex-magistrate over dismissal for views on adoption by same-sex couple – Local Government Lawyer

‘A magistrate and NHS trust board member who was dismissed over his views – based on his beliefs as a Christian – about the appropriateness of the adoption of a child by a same-sex couple, has lost two cases in the Court of Appeal.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 4th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

E-scooter rider given ban for drink-driving on Isle of Wight – BBC News

Posted January 19th, 2021 in drunk in charge, magistrates, motorcycles, news, sentencing by sally

‘A woman is thought to be the first person in the UK to be found guilty of drink-driving while using an e-scooter.’

Full Story

BBC News, 18th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law Society calls for two-week pause of non-custodial Crown and Magistrates court work – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Law Society has called for urgent action including a possible two-week pause of non-custodial Crown and magistrates’ court work “amid escalating safety concerns”.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 15th January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judges “most likely to discriminate” against Black barristers – Legal Futures

Posted November 19th, 2020 in barristers, judiciary, magistrates, news, race discrimination, racism, reports, statistics by sally

‘Black barristers are most likely to experience racial discrimination from judges or magistrates than other lawyers, a report has found.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 19th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Half of coronavirus fines go unpaid in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2020 in coronavirus, enforcement, fines, magistrates, news, penalties, police, regulations by sally

‘Half the fines issued by police for breaches of coronavirus rules in England and Wales have not been paid and will be dealt with by the already beleaguered courts, it has been revealed.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 30th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Illusory Open Justice: A Kafkan Attempt to Observe Magistrates Courts in the Time of COVID-19 – Transparency Project

Posted May 27th, 2020 in coronavirus, criminal justice, magistrates, news, remote hearings by sally

‘COVID-19 has taken a hammer to the already fragile transparency in our justice system. Open justice means that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. While journalists and court reporters can bring what happens in court to houses around the country, public access to our courts ensures judges and lawyers are sufficiently scrutinised. The coronavirus pandemic and the transition to virtual courts has all but severed public access to magistrates’ courts, risking the routine occurrence of miscarriages of justice with little prospect of correction.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 27th May 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Volume of work in Magistrates’ Courts needs to be increased, says Lord Chief Justice – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 21st, 2020 in coronavirus, delay, magistrates, news by sally

‘The Lord Chief Justice has sent a message to magistrates saying the volume of work in the Magistrates’ Courts needs to be increased.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 20th May 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

BBC Radio 4 – Law in Action: ‘Magistracy: a jewel in the crown of justice’ – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted November 7th, 2019 in cross-examination, Crown Court, magistrates, press releases, witnesses by tracey

‘Joshua Rozenberg from BBC Radio 4 spoke with Maidstone Bench Chair Gill Fryzer and John Bache from the Magistrates Association for his Law in Action programme.’

Full press release

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 7th November 2019

Source: www.judiciary.ukwww.judiciary.ukwww.judiciary.uk

Magistrates raise concerns over county lines defence ‘loophole’ – The Guardian

‘A legal defence for children who claim they are being exploited by county lines drug gangs needs to be monitored more closely, the Magistrates’ Association has warned.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 6th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

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.’

Full Story

BBC News, 1st October 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Banned leader – Nearly Legal

Posted September 18th, 2019 in fines, housing, landlord & tenant, licensing, magistrates, news by tracey

’43 Dudmaston, Telford, Shropshire TF3 2DF: BIR/00GF/HSH/2019/0001. This is the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decision on applications by the Borough of Telford and Wrekin for a banning order against David Beattie under section 15(1) Housing and Planning Act 2016 and for a rent repayment order under section 41 H&PA 2016.’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 17th September 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Same-sex and single-parent adoption and religious discrimination: Page – Law & Religion UK

‘On 19 June 2019, the Employment Appeal Tribunal handed down two separate judgments relating to the same appellant, Mr Richard Page: Page v Lord Chancellor & Anor [2019] UKEAT 0304 18 1906 and Page v NHS Trust Development Authority [2019] UKEAT 0183 18 1906. The appeals related to Mr Page’s religious beliefs in relation to his position as a magistrate and as a Non-Executive Director of an NHS Trust, respectively; and the EAT dismissed the appeals in both cases. From the legal perspective, the two cases were not “linked” as such because there was no cross-referencing between them. However, the action taken by the Lord Chancellor’s Department resulted, indirectly, in action being instituted by the NHS, and the following note relates to both judgments.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 24th June 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Magistrates call for end to prison sentences under eight weeks – The Guardian

‘Prison sentences of less than eight weeks should no longer be imposed by the courts, the Magistrates’ Association is urging, in defiance of more radical government proposals.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Employment Appeal Tribunal hears appeal from Christian ex-magistrate dismissed over adoption comments – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Employment Appeal Tribunal is this week hearing an appeal from a former magistrate who was removed from the judiciary after he expressed the view that it was in a child’s best interests to be raised by a mother and a father.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 15th May 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Half of magistrates courts in England and Wales closed since 2010 – The Guardian

Posted January 28th, 2019 in budgets, computer programs, courts, magistrates, news, statistics by sally

‘More than half of all magistrates courts in England and Wales have closed since 2010, forcing defendants, witnesses, police, lawyers and justices of the peace to travel sometimes more than 50 miles to access local justice.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th January 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Case of ex-magistrate challenging top judges moves forward – Family Law

Posted December 6th, 2018 in adoption, employment tribunals, magistrates, news, victimisation by sally

‘Former magistrate Richard Page has been granted permission to take his case against the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice to the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Page is accusing the most senior judges in England and Wales of victimising him for his view that children do best when raised by both a mother and a father.’

Full Story

Family Law, 5th December 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Short Cuts – London Review of Books

Posted October 18th, 2018 in appeals, budgets, criminal justice, legal aid, magistrates, news, sentencing by sally

‘If you want to appeal against a guilty verdict given by a crown court jury you first have to seek permission from the Court of Appeal. For permission to be granted, a judge has to be satisfied there is an ‘arguable case’ that the conviction was ‘unsafe’. If so, the appeal is heard in full by a panel of three judges. The latest figures show that in 2016-17 the court received 1305 applications for permission to appeal, and dealt with 850, refusing permission to 695 (82 per cent). It heard 215 appeals, and allowed 78 – 36 per cent of those heard.’

Full Story

London Review of Books, 11th October 2018

Source: www.lrb.co.uk

Cab drivers to challenge decision to grant Uber 15-month licence in London – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 28th, 2018 in bias, judges, licensing, London, magistrates, news, taxis by tracey

‘London cab drivers have applied for judicial review against Westminster Magistrates’ Court in a dispute over whether a judge’s decision to grant a licence to the taxi app firm Uber was tainted with bias.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 27th September 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Authority urges Justice Minister to reverse Magistrate’s Court re-organisation – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 4th, 2018 in courts, local government, magistrates, news by sally

‘A second council has objected to the Ministry of Justice’s changes to court locations in the West Midlands.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 30th August 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Defendants ‘gaming system’ to get domestic violence cases dropped – The Guardian

Posted August 6th, 2018 in domestic violence, intimidation, magistrates, news, reports by sally

‘Defendants are “gaming the system” in specialist domestic violence courts by intimidating partners into not appearing in the expectation that magistrates will drop charges, a critical report has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 5th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com