Category: magistrates

Regina (Hope and Glory Public House Ltd) v City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court (Westminster City Council intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted January 28th, 2011 in appeals, human rights, law reports, licensed premises, licensing, magistrates by sally

Regina (Hope and Glory Public House Ltd) v City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court (Westminster City Council intervening) [2011] EWCA Civ 31; [2011] WLR (D) 20

“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.

Virtual court scheme too expensive, says report – The Independent

Posted December 21st, 2010 in live link evidence, magistrates, news, pilot schemes by sally

“Rolling out virtual courts would cost more than it would save, a report found today. A pilot project, in which defendants appeared via video link from a police station for their first appearance at a magistrates’ court, cost £247 more per case than the traditional court process, the study for the Ministry of Justice found.”

Full story

The Independent, 21st December 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Violent offenders escaping with cautions, warn magistrates – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 30th, 2010 in cautions, magistrates, news, violent offenders by sally

“Almost 40,000 violent offenders a year are being handed soft punishments because they are not taken to court, one of the country’s leading magistrates has warned.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th November 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regina (Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough Council) v East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court – WLR Daily

Posted October 26th, 2010 in law reports, magistrates, offensive weapons, prosecutions by sally

Regina (Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough Council) v East Berkshire Magistrates’ Court [2010] WLR(D) 264

“Whether an article was a ‘knife’ within the meaning of s 141A(2)(a) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 was not a pure question of fact, but a question of mixed fact and law; and the justices had erred in law in finding that s 141A did not apply to a grapefruit knife, notwithstanding that it was a cutting instrument consisting of a blade with a handle.”

WLR Daily, 25th October 2010

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.

Top judge Lord Justice Goldring wants to save 34 courts – BBC News

Posted October 22nd, 2010 in budgets, county courts, magistrates, news by sally

“The senior presiding judge for England and Wales has said he cannot back the closure of 18 of the 103 magistrates’ courts earmarked for closure.”

Full story

BBC News, 21st October 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Middle-aged women magistrates don’t want cases in town halls, says Jonathan Djanogly – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 20th, 2010 in magistrates, news by sally

“A justice minister has played down plans to use town halls as courtrooms because many magistrates are ‘middle aged women’ who were worried about their security.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th October 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Magistrates order pregnant Muslim to remove veil – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 11th, 2010 in evidence, Islam, magistrates, news by sally

“Magistrates ordered a pregnant Muslim woman to remove her veil while she gave evidence against her violent ex-partner.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th October 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Court napping, the magistrate who fell asleep at the bench – The Independent

Posted September 28th, 2010 in judicial appointments commission, magistrates, news, professional conduct by sally

“A magistrate has been removed from office after he fell asleep on the bench, causing an assault trial to collapse, the Office for Judicial Complaints said yesterday.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th September 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Courts could be set up in shopping centres, Magistrates’ Association says – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 18th, 2010 in courts, magistrates, news by sally

“Courts could be set up in shopping centres with the public able to watch through glass panes under plans to speed up the justice system, the Magistrates’ Association said on Tuesday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th August 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Magistrate disciplined after comment to foreign defendant – The Independent

Posted July 22nd, 2010 in disciplinary procedures, magistrates, news by sally

“A magistrate was disciplined after rebuking a foreign defendant for ‘coming to our shores and abusing our hospitality’.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd July 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Lawyers warn that court closures could threaten access to justice – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 1st, 2010 in consultations, courts, law firms, magistrates, news by sally

“Lawyers have warned that government proposals to close nearly a third of the courts in England and Wales could threaten access to justice and increase pressure on legal aid practitioners.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 1st July 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitors alarmed by associate prosecutor proposals – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 18th, 2010 in courts, Law Society, legal profession, magistrates, news, rights of audience by sally

“Proposals that could enable ‘associate prosecutors’ with no legal qualifications to conduct magistrates’ court trials amount to ‘justice on the cheap’ and herald the ‘de-lawyering’ of the magistrates’ court, solicitors have warned.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 18th March 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ministers plan law change to stop arrests of foreign officials – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2010 in diplomats, magistrates, news, warrants by sally

“New legislation that could strip magistrates of their power to issue arrest warrants for foreign dignitaries on visits to the UK has been attacked by MPs and campaigners.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Magistrate who won victimisation case sacked for misconduct – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 11th, 2010 in magistrates, news, professional conduct, race discrimination by sally

“A black magistrate who won a victimisation case against the Ministry of Justice has been sacked for misconduct.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th January 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The Criminal Procedure Rules and witness attendance for magistrates – speech by Nicholas Moss, JP

Posted December 2nd, 2009 in criminal procedure, magistrates, speeches, witnesses by sally

“The Criminal Procedure Rules and witness attendance for magistrates’ – speech to the  Magistrates’ Association Council, London on 26 November 2009.”

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 1st December 2009

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Magistrates attack plans for ‘alcohol asbos’ to tackle drunken behaviour – The Guardian

Posted September 1st, 2009 in drinking banning orders, magistrates, news by sally

“A government policy to fine drunken troublemakers up to £2,500 under a new system of ‘alcohol asbos’ introduced today has been rubbished by magistrates whose job it is to impose them.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st August 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Black magistrate victimised after reporting concerns of racism – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 24th, 2009 in magistrates, news, racism, victimisation by sally

“A black magistrate who alleged she witnessed ‘hostile treatment’ of black defendants in court was victimised after reporting her concerns, a tribunal ruled.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 21st August 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Magistrates angry over cuts as on-the-spot fines replace court hearings – The Times

Posted July 10th, 2009 in fines, magistrates, news by sally

“Magistrates are angry that they are being made to carry the brunt of cuts because their workload is being diverted away from the courts.”

Full story

The Times, 10th July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Jack Straw defends virtual courts after trial at police station – The Times

Posted May 28th, 2009 in live link evidence, magistrates, news by sally

“Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, was in court yesterday — to defend his plans for ‘virtual courts’, under which thousands of defendants will lose their right to have a courtroom hearing.”

Full story

The Times, 28th May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Magistrate resigns in Twitter row – BBC News

Posted April 27th, 2009 in internet, magistrates, news by sally

“A magistrate has resigned from the bench following a complaint about his use of the Twitter network.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th April 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk