Government unveils massive court modernisation programme – Litigation Futures

Posted March 31st, 2014 in budgets, courts, delay, HM Courts Service, internet, news by sally

‘The government has announced an investment of up to £375m to modernise HM Courts & Tribunals Service over the second half of the decade.’

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Litigation Futures, 28th March 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Backing just one horse in a consultation process can be unfair – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 31st, 2014 in consultations, human rights, judicial review, news, rent by sally

‘Public law principles allow you to challenge a decision of a public authority if the consultation process preceding it was unfair. Unfairness comes in many shapes and sizes, but the commonest one alleged is that it was not carried out at the formative stage. The authority had already made up enough of its mind so the consultation process ceased to mean anything – it was just going through the motions.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 28th March 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Duped by the ‘blood analyst’ who says he can cure cancer – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 31st, 2014 in advertising, cancer, consumer protection, doctors, news, trading standards by sally

‘Controversial Harley Street specialist is found guilty of claiming he can cure cancer in landmark case brought by trading standards.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th March 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Theresa May orders review of gay asylum claim handling – BBC News

Posted March 31st, 2014 in asylum, equality, homosexuality, news by sally

‘The home secretary has ordered a review of how border officials handle asylum claims from gay and lesbian applicants.’

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BBC News, 28th March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hillsborough inquest: Questions and answers – Daily Telegraph

‘The new Hillsborough inquests begin today in Warrington, almost 25 years after Britain’s worst sporting disaster and 18 months after the verdicts in the original inquests were quashed.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st March 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Domenico Rancadore: DPP admits ‘error’ over Mafia boss extradition – BBC News

‘The director of public prosecutions has admitted an error was made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) during a Mafia boss’s extradition proceedings.’

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BBC News, 28th March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Solicitors and probation workers to strike over plans – BBC News

‘Solicitors and probation officers in England and Wales are staging joint action against changes introduced by the Ministry of Justice.’

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BBC News, 31st March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Porn sites must enforce age checks, says UK industry regulator – The Independent

Posted March 31st, 2014 in children, internet, licensing, news, pornography, statistics by sally

‘Pornography websites should require users to prove they are over the age of 18, a UK industry regulator has said.’

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The Independent, 28th March 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Caterers who refuse to work on same-sex weddings face prosecution – Daily Telegraph

‘Chauffeurs, photographers and caterers could have to pay thousands of pounds in damages if they refuse to provide services to a same-sex wedding.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th March 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sara Ege murder case: Conviction appeal bid dismissed – BBC News

‘Judges have dismissed an appeal bid by a woman who beat her son to death for failing to memorise the Koran.’

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BBC News, 28th March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid cuts leave family courts in chaos, experts say – The Guardian

‘Cuts in legal aid are creating chaos in the family courts, according to legal experts, who warn that the resulting delays are having a serious impact on the children of warring parents.’

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The Guardian, 29th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Mid-Staffs scandal: Nursing and Midwifery Council criticised – BBC News

Posted March 31st, 2014 in auditors, disciplinary procedures, midwives, news, nurses, reports, standards by sally

‘The Nursing and Midwifery Council is facing more criticism over its handling of disciplinary cases in a report by the Professional Standards Authority.’

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BBC News, 31st March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Yarl’s Wood death: Woman, 40, dies of heart attack at controversial immigration centre – The Independent

‘Police were on Sunday investigating the sudden death of a 40-year-old woman at a controversial immigration detention centre where Mauritian A-Level student Yashika Bageerathi is currently awaiting deportation.’

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The Independent, 30th March 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Parents guilty of emotional cruelty face jail – The Guardian

‘Adults convicted of acts of emotional cruelty against children in their care will face the same threat of jail as those guilty of physical neglect, under new laws being considered by ministers.’

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The Guardian, 31st March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The child’s voice – New Law Journal

Posted March 28th, 2014 in child abduction, children, domicile, news by sally

‘Kirstie Gibson considers the approach taken by the court to determine the habitual residence of a child.’

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New Law Journal, 28th March 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

No maternity rights for commissioning mother in surrogacy case – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 28th, 2014 in EC law, equality, maternity leave, news, surrogacy by sally

‘The European Court (CJEU) has now considered two requests for preliminary ruling made in proceedings between intended mothers (also referred to as a commissioning mother) who have had babies through a surrogacy arrangement, and their employers concerning the refusal to grant them paid leave following the birth of the babies. It has replied that EU law does not provide for commissioning mothers to be entitled to paid leave equivalent to maternity leave or adoption leave.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 26th March 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Judicial Review Reform: All about the money, money, money? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 28th, 2014 in bills, budgets, judicial review, legal aid, news by sally

‘As MPs and Peers consider the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration)(Amendment)(No 3) Regulations and the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, Angela Patrick, Director of Human Rights Policy at JUSTICE considers the Lord Chancellor’s view that proposed judicial review changes do not restrict access to judicial review remedies or restrict the rule of law.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 26th March 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Alexander Horne: Is there a case for greater legislative involvement in the judicial appointments process? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted March 28th, 2014 in constitutional law, constitutional reform, judiciary, news, parliament by sally

‘The dramatic increase in public law and human rights cases coming before the UK Supreme Court (and the Appellate Committee before it) means that the UK’s top court is more frequently determining essentially socio-political questions. In addition, in recent years, the judiciary has pressed for a rather more expansive definition of judicial independence, with a greater emphasis on the institutional independence of the judiciary. This has tended to lead to more powerful leadership roles, for senior judges in particular.

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 27th March 2014

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Rape victim’s children face ‘barbaric’ forced adoption – BBC News

Posted March 28th, 2014 in adoption, children, domestic violence, news, rape by sally

‘A mother has described a decision to put her children up for adoption over fears that she may get back with her violent former partner as “barbaric”.’

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BBC News, 27th March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Drug driving limits announced – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 28th, 2014 in drug abuse, drug offences, news, road traffic offences by sally

‘Legal limits to prevent drug driving have been set out for the first time by ministers in new laws which will come into force this autumn’

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Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk