Category: news

Couple launch challenge to heterosexual ban on Civil Partnerships – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted December 10th, 2014 in bills, civil partnerships, equality, judicial review, marriage, news, sexual orientation discrimination by sally

‘The future of civil partnerships is again in the news. In October, Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan tried to register a Civil Partnership at Chelsea Town Hall but were rebuffed on the grounds that the Civil Partnership Act 2004 reserves that status strictly for same sex couples. Their lawyer, Louise Whitfield of Deighton Pierce Glynn Solicitors has announced their intention to seek a judicial review and the couple have also started a petition.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 9th December 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Merseyside dangerous dog raids: Police acted ‘unlawfully’ – BBC News

Posted December 10th, 2014 in compensation, dogs, judicial review, news, police by sally

‘A police crackdown that saw 22 dangerous dogs rounded up and destroyed across Merseyside was “unlawful”, a court has ruled.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Peers continue JR resistance as Grayling admits misinforming MPs about changes – Litigation Futures

Posted December 10th, 2014 in bills, costs, judicial review, judiciary, news, parliament by sally

‘The House of Lords yesterday reinstated two of the three amendments it previously passed on the government’s judicial review reforms as it emerged that Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling had given MPs incorrect information over a key aspect of them last week.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 10th December 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions on Eleanor de Freitas – CPS News Brief

Posted December 10th, 2014 in codes of practice, Crown Prosecution Service, inquests, mental health, news, perverting the course of justice, police, private prosecutions, public interest, rape, sexual offences by sally

‘Eleanor de Freitas’ tragic death was just days before she was due to stand trial for perverting the course of justice. The pending inquest will deal with the circumstances surrounding her death and I do not want to interfere with that process. However the case has understandably raised questions about private prosecutions in these types of cases and why the CPS took over and continued this particular case.’

Full story

CPS News Brief, 9th December 2014

Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk

‘Very dangerous’ paedophile released over ‘unlawful’ sentence – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 10th, 2014 in appeals, child abuse, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘Jeffrey Charles Goodwyn, who has previous for raping a nine-year-old, is released on appeal from sentence for sexually assaulting girl, 7.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Men who groom vulnerable young girls will be dealt with ‘severely’, judge says – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2014 in appeals, child abuse, news, police, rape, sentencing, sexual grooming, sexual offences, social services by sally

‘The most senior judge in England and Wales today said men who prey on vulnerable young girls for sex will be dealt with “severely”, as he dismissed appeals from four paedophile groomers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sun journalist Nick Parker cleared of misconduct – BBC News

Posted December 9th, 2014 in aiding and abetting, handling stolen goods, media, misfeasance in public office, news, sentencing, suspended sentences by sally

‘A Sun reporter has been cleared of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office, but convicted of handling an MP’s stolen mobile phone.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

John McHale Tameside murder: David Platt given life sentence – BBC News

Posted December 9th, 2014 in arson, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man found guilty of murdering a fellow Tameside guest house resident before setting fire to his body has been jailed for life.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK judge praises students for helping overturn murder conviction – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Criminal Cases Review Commission, miscarriage of justice, murder, news, universities by sally

‘A judge has praised the “diligent” work of law students for helping overturn a former gang member’s murder conviction.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

HS2 campaigners lose Court of Appeal challenge – BBC News

Posted December 9th, 2014 in appeals, news, planning, railways by sally

‘Campaigners have lost their latest legal challenge to the first phase of the proposed HS2 high-speed rail line.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Daniel Pelka’s stepfather loses murder conviction appeal – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 9th, 2014 in appeals, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘Mariusz Krezolek loses Court of Appeal bid to challenge conviction for murdering stepson Daniel Pelka, as he and boy’s mother Magdelena Luczak fail to win sentence appeal.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th December 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

CPS ‘right’ to pursue De Freitas case after rape allegation – BBC News

Posted December 9th, 2014 in Crown Prosecution Service, mental health, news, perverting the course of justice, prosecutions by sally

‘The UK’s top prosecutor has defended pursuing a woman who killed herself days before appearing in court accused of making a false rape allegation.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Public access barrister named as ‘a risk’ to clients – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 9th, 2014 in barristers, complaints, disciplinary procedures, disclosure, legal ombudsman, news by sally

‘The Legal Ombudsman has taken the unprecedented step of naming a lawyer who has been subject to 25 complaints in the past two years.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th December 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA)’s refusal of application for compensation arising out of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is endorsed by Court of Appeal : CP (A Child) v First Tier Tribunal (Criminal Injuries Compensation) – Zenith PI Blog

Posted December 9th, 2014 in alcohol abuse, appeals, compensation, criminal injuries compensation, news, personal injuries, pregnancy, tribunals by sally

‘Yesterday the Court of Appeal gave a vote of confidence in CICA’s recent policy change on FASD inflicted injuries. The Court concluded that, as a foetus was not ‘any other person’ in the eyes of the criminal law, the mother’s damagingly excessive alcohol consumption was NOT an act of violence susceptible to compensation.

Full story

Zenith PI Blog, 9th December 2014

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Intellectual stimulation or cold hard cash – what’s the top perk of a career in law? – Legal Week

Posted December 9th, 2014 in legal profession, news by sally

‘Working in an intellectually stimulating profession ranks ahead of money as the top perk of a career in law, according to the results of a new survey of junior and upcoming lawyers.’

Full story

Legal Week, 8th December 2014

Source: www.legalweek.com

Judicial Review: Common sense and the separation of powers – The Bar Council

Posted December 9th, 2014 in barristers, judicial review, news by sally

‘Just one day before the Lords vote on Government attempts to restrict judicial review, Bar Council Chairman Nicholas Lavender explains why the Lord Chancellor cannot be the judge in his own case.’

Full story

The Bar Council, 8th December 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Probation privatisation judicial review dropped by union – BBC News

Posted December 9th, 2014 in contracting out, news, probation, trade unions by sally

‘A legal challenge to government plans to privatise parts of the probation service has been called off by the union representing probation staff.’

Full story

BBC News, 8th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New support for industrial disease victims – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 9th, 2014 in asbestos, compensation, industrial injuries, news, victims by sally

‘New measures to support sufferers of the industrial disease mesothelioma and their families have been announced by Justice Minister Lord Faulks.’

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 8th December 2014

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

Could legislation halt non-physical domestic abuse? – BBC News

Posted December 9th, 2014 in coercive & controlling behaviour, crime, domestic violence, harassment, news by sally

‘Home Secretary Theresa May could soon announce a new offence in England and Wales to tackle domestic abuse. The law will cover coercive and controlling behaviour within a relationship, as legislation already exists to tackle violence. But why is it needed?’

Full story

BBC News, 8th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Driverless cars – the top 10 legal issues – Technology Law Update

Posted December 9th, 2014 in data protection, insurance, news, road safety, road traffic, road traffic offences by sally

‘The UK government’s announcement last week of the results of its competition for driverless car testing is an exciting development. We expect an announcement of the results of a review of the regulatory regime to follow shortly. As we wait for these results, we identify the top ten areas where we think the law will need to be updated to allow this important technology to move forward.’

Full story

Technology Law Update, 8th December 2014

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk