“Magistrates will have the power to hand out summary justice in police stations or community centres under a planned overhaul of out of court penalties to be revealed next month.”
Daily Telegraph, 16th April 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“A drink driving case was abandoned after a magistrate appeared to fall asleep while the defence solicitor was speaking.”
Daily Telegraph, 5th April 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“Magistrates’ courts are to be ordered to sit in then early mornings, evenings and at weekends under plans to deliver a ‘short, sharp shock’ to youths who get drunk and commit offences on Friday and Saturday nights.”
Daily Telegraph, 31st March 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“The Law Society has criticised Nick Herbert’s proposal to give magistrates power to issue summary sentences outside of court, which it says could leave defendants without access to proper advice.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 14th December 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Magistrates will be able to hand out summary justice in police stations under a radical overhaul of out-of-court penalties being considered by the Government.”
Daily Telegraph, 7th December 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“This research assessed the strengths and skills of magistrates and District Judges to inform better deployment of the judiciary in magistrates’ courts.”
Ministry of Justice, 15th November 2011
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“A Ministry of Justice report suggests the difference is less than some imagine.”
The Guardian, 17th November 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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 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
“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 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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
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