Category: magistrates

Regina (B and others) v Westminster Magistrates’ Court and others – WLR Daily

Posted November 7th, 2014 in closed material, disclosure, evidence, extradition, law reports, magistrates by tracey

Regina (B and others) v Westminster Magistrates’ Court and others: [2014] UKSC 59; [2014] WLR (D) 470

‘A judge hearing extradition proceedings in the magistrates’ court had no power under the Extradition Act 2003 to hear evidence in a closed court and to make an order prohibiting the disclosure to the government of the requesting state of evidence adduced by individuals whose extradition was being sought. Extradition proceedings were not in a special category which would justify a departure from the principle of open justice.’

WLR Daily, 5th November 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Phasing in new legislation – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 3rd, 2014 in ASBOs, criminal justice, detention, dispersal orders, dogs, extradition, fees, firearms, forced marriages, forensic science, magistrates, news, police, prosecutions, public order, solicitors, terrorism, theft by sally

‘The major piece of criminal law legislation for 2014 is the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act. It has been brought gradually into force throughout the year.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd November 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Pop-up courts for speeding fine cases – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 27th, 2014 in courts, criminal justice, fines, magistrates, news, road traffic offences by sally

‘Ministers are considering introducing “pop up” courts for people who challenge speeding fines to be held in their own communities.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fraud, bribery and money laundering offences guideline comes into effect – Sentencing Council

Posted October 2nd, 2014 in bribery, Crown Court, fraud, magistrates, money laundering, news, sentencing by tracey

‘Following a period of training and implementation the definitive guideline on fraud, bribery and money laundering offences came into effect on 1 October 2014.’

Versions for the Crown Court and magistrates’ courts

Sentencing Council, 1st October 2014

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Magistrate sings in protest at being forced to retire – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 11th, 2014 in age discrimination, elderly, magistrates, news, retirement by sally

‘Karen Henshaw stood up in court and broke into song about being forced to step down from her duties at the age of 70.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th August 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Criminals jailed by magistrates to pay victim surcharge – BBC News

Posted August 8th, 2014 in imprisonment, magistrates, news, restorative justice, sentencing, victims by sally

‘Criminals jailed by magistrates’ courts in England and Wales will no longer be excused from victim surcharge payments by serving extra prison time.’

Full story

BBC News, 8th August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unfit To Plead in the Magistrates’ and Youth Courts? – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

Posted June 11th, 2014 in fitness to plead, magistrates, news, youth courts by sally

‘Miranda Bevan on the Law Commission’s review of the law on unfitness to plead in England and Wales.’

Full story

Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 6th June 2014

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk

Why are special courts that can help drug users at risk of being scrapped? – The Guardian

Posted June 10th, 2014 in courts, crime, drug abuse, magistrates, news by sally

‘Launched as a pilot programme a decade ago, dedicated drug courts were widely promoted as one of the best hopes of halting addiction-fuelled crime. According to supporters, however, specialist courts are now in danger of being disbanded through lack of official support. The West London drugs court, in Hammersmith, sits only half a day a week and is no longer staffed exclusively by specially trained magistrates.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th June 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Magistrate court fines ‘may rise 300%’ under new plans – BBC News

Posted June 10th, 2014 in fines, magistrates, news, road traffic offences by sally

‘Maximum fines imposed by magistrates are set to rise dramatically under new proposals for England and Wales.’

Full story

BBC News, 10th June 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Review into death of boy pinpoints decision of magistrates to refuse EPO – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 28th, 2014 in care orders, causing death of children or vulnerable adults, causing serious physical harm to a child or vulnerable adult, children, local government, magistrates, news, social services by sally

‘A “very unusual” Magistrates’ Court decision to refuse the grant of an emergency protection order (EPO) for a baby boy disempowered agencies, a serious case review into his death has concluded.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 25th April 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court closures spark fears of ‘justice deserts’ in rural areas – The Independent

Posted April 22nd, 2014 in county courts, courts, magistrates, news by sally

‘Dozens of the 500 courts in England and Wales are to be shut down under a £75m-a-year Ministry of Justice reform programme, fuelling fears that rural areas will become “deserts” of justice.’

Full story

The Independent, 20th April 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Impose tougher sentences for knife crimes, says top judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 17th, 2014 in judges, magistrates, news, offensive weapons, sentencing, young offenders by tracey

‘The most senior judge in England and Wales has called on magistrates to impose tougher sentences for youths who carry knives.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th April 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Damian Green: new rehabilitation powers for magistrates – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 27th, 2014 in magistrates, press releases, rehabilitation, supervision orders by tracey

‘Magistrates will be given new powers as part of the Government’s reforms of rehabilitation.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 25th March 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Released short term prisoner face another two weeks behind bars if they ignore new supervision – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 26th, 2014 in bills, diversity, magistrates, news, rehabilitation, supervision orders by sally

‘Damian Green, Justice minister, announces new powers for magistrates to ensure new supervision orders are met.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th March 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Magistrate numbers in England and Wales fall by 1,837 – BBC News

Posted February 27th, 2014 in elderly, magistrates, news, statistics by sally

‘The number of magistrates in England and Wales fell by 1,837 last year, new figures have revealed.’

Full story

BBC News, 27th February 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Magistrates should sit in police stations, report says – BBC News

Posted February 21st, 2014 in courts, magistrates, news, police, reports by sally

‘The government should allow magistrates to dispense on-the-spot justice inside police stations at peak times, a report by a right-leaning think tank has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 21st February 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Let reformed drug addicts become magistrates’, suggests think tank – The Independent

Posted December 17th, 2013 in courts, drug abuse, magistrates, news, rehabilitation by sally

‘Ex-offenders who’ve turned away from crime would be ideally suited to help deal with low-level offenders.’

Full story

The Independent, 17th December 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Clare’s Law – what is it and is it what’s needed? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted December 4th, 2013 in criminal records, disclosure, domestic violence, magistrates, news, pilot schemes, police by sally

‘From March 2014, a scheme allowing police to disclose to individuals details of their partners’ abusive pasts will be extended to police forces across England and Wales, following a successful 14-month pilot in four police force areas. It is intended that this Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, or “Clare’s Law”, will provide, “people with the information they need to escape an abusive situation before it ends in tragedy”, according to Home Secretary Theresa May.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 3rd December 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Anything Goes? – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

Posted November 4th, 2013 in enforcement notices, guilty pleas, judicial review, magistrates, news, planning by sally

“Has Rahmdezfouli stemmed the march against formalism, asks Dan Bunting.”

Full story

Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 2nd November 2013

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk

I swear that the current procedure for taking oaths in court needs reform – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted November 4th, 2013 in Christianity, criminal procedure, Islam, magistrates, news, oaths, trials, witnesses by sally

“Do you object to swearing an oath on the Bible? Sorry, I hope that question didn’t put you off your stride when settling down to read this article. It’s the same question witnesses are asked when they’re about to give evidence in criminal trials.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 1st November 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk