The strange status of 16-year-olds – BBC News

Posted March 13th, 2013 in news, young persons by sally

“The age of 18 is widely accepted as the start of adulthood but those one or two years younger occupy a strange twilight zone where they are given many freedoms and responsibilities but denied others.”

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BBC News, 13th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

HarperCollins sued by former death row prisoner over ditched book – The Guardian

Posted March 13th, 2013 in contracts, loss of chance, news, publishing by sally

“Nick Yarris, who was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death for murder, sues publisher over abandoned life story.”

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The Guardian, 12th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Disabled people in legal bid to save living fund – BBC News

“The High Court is to begin hearing a challenge to government plans to scrap a £320m scheme that helps people with severe disabilities live independently.”

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BBC News, 13th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

British soldier Michael Maguire was unlawfully killed, inquest rules – The Guardian

Posted March 13th, 2013 in armed forces, firearms, health & safety, inquests, news, unlawful killing by sally

“A soldier was unlawfully killed when he was hit in the head by a machine-gun bullet as he rested in a supposedly safe area next to a firing range, an inquest jury has ruled.”

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The Guardian, 13th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Historic Royal Charter on press regulation close to being agreed – The Independent

Posted March 13th, 2013 in charters, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, regulations by sally

“The three leading political parties were last night close to signing up to a historic Royal Charter to implement the recommendations of Lord Justice Leveson on reforming regulation of the press.”

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The Independent, 12th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rape investigations ‘undermined by belief that false accusations are rife’ – The Guardian

Posted March 13th, 2013 in news, prosecutions, rape, victims, wasting police time by sally

“A ‘misplaced belief’ that false accusations of rape or domestic violence are commonplace may be undermining police and prosecutors’ efforts to investigate such crimes, the director of public prosecutions has warned.”

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The Guardian, 13th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Defence lawyers exploit the weakness of sex abuse victims, says police chief Sir Peter Fahy – The Independent

Posted March 12th, 2013 in cross-examination, news, sexual offences, victims, witnesses by sally

“One of Britain’s most senior police officers has accused defence lawyers of ‘exploiting’ the weakness of sex abuse victims making prosecutors reluctant to bring cases to court.”

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The Independent, 12th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Disclosure of ill-treatment allegations would breach nurse’s human rights, rules High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 12th, 2013 in disclosure, human rights, judicial review, news, nurses, proportionality, vetting by sally

“This was an application for judicial review, and a claim under the Human Rights Act 1998, in respect of the defendant’s decision to disclose allegations of neglect and ill-treatment of care home residents in an Enhanced Criminal Records Certificate dated 12th October 2012.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 12th March 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Philippe Sands quits Lib Dems in protest at support for secret courts – The Guardian

Posted March 12th, 2013 in bills, closed material, news, political parties, private hearings by sally

“The prominent international lawyer Prof Philippe Sands QC has resigned from the Liberal Democrats in protest at the leadership’s support for expanding the use of secret courts.”

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The Guardian, 11th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: I’m leaving the Liberal Democrats too

Let’s rip up the Human Rights Act – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted March 12th, 2013 in human rights, legislation, news, repeals by sally

“UK justice secretary Chris Grayling’s call for the repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 has led to claims that he is betraying British values, and damaging Britain’s reputation abroad. But it is time for a grown-up debate about what, exactly, this piece of legislation has done to enhance our civil liberties and fundamental freedoms.”

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Hardwick Chambers, 11th March 2013

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Jackson and the occupational hazards of commoditised litigation: a practical view from the Bar – Littleton Chambers

Posted March 12th, 2013 in costs, insurance, news, trials, witnesses by sally

“In his monthly column, James Bickford Smith considers two judgments that illustrate the hazards of the commoditised litigation that will be transformed, for better or worse, by the Jackson  reforms.”

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Littleton Chambers, 6th March 2013

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Baby P social workers lose court appeal against sacking – BBC News

Posted March 12th, 2013 in appeals, news, social services, unfair dismissal by sally

“Two of Baby P’s social workers have lost their appeal against a tribunal ruling that found they were fairly sacked by Haringey Council.”

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BBC News, 12th March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

How mediation takes the sting out of divorce – The Guardian

Posted March 12th, 2013 in arbitration, divorce, news by sally

“From next month, divorce may get a little less confrontational – and cheaper. Changes to legal aid mean couples who split won’t be funded through the courts, but that could be a good thing, argues mediator Victoria Scott.”

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The Guardian, 9th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sexual relationships in undercover policing – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted March 12th, 2013 in investigatory powers, news, police, reports, select committees by sally

“Like most people who are commenting in the ether at the moment, I find disturbing one of the two principal threads of the story about undercover policing which are in the news: the forging by one or more undercover officers of sexual relationships with people in the protest groups they had infiltrated. Have a look at this report on the BBC website, for a flavour of the coverage it is receiving, and a call for tighter controls to prevent such activity in the future. And then look at the Home Affairs Select Committee interim report.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 11th March 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Reform agenda to create “two-tier Bar”, with bulk of chambers to suffer – Legal Futures

Posted March 12th, 2013 in barristers, fees, legal aid, legal profession, news by sally

“Legal aid cuts, the Jackson reforms and the introduction of competitive tendering for criminal law work will split the Bar into a two-tier profession, with mid-sized generalist chambers set to suffer, a specialist Bar consultant has predicted.”

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Legal Futures, 12th March 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Violent’ son faces £110,000 legal bill after court battle over will – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 12th, 2013 in costs, families, harassment, news, wills by sally

“A ‘violent’ man who coerced his mother into changing her will to leave him nearly all of her £350,000 fortune is facing a £110,000 legal bill after a judge set aside the will because of his ‘forceful’ nature.”

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Daily Telegraph, 12th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Supreme Court: diversity, equality and flexibility – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted March 12th, 2013 in diversity, news, solicitors, Supreme Court, women by sally

“In 2009, when asked by the then Lord Chancellor to look at judicial diversity, Baroness Neuberger said:

‘Judges drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences will bring varying perspectives to bear on critical legal issues. A judiciary which is more visibly reflective of society will enhance public confidence.'”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 11th March 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Decision on hold after Home Secretary’s appeal against ruling that blocked Abu Qatada deportation – The Independent

Posted March 12th, 2013 in appeals, bail, deportation, evidence, news, terrorism, torture by sally

“The Government’s seemingly endless battle to deport the radical cleric Abu Qatada went back before the courts today.”

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The Independent, 11th March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Huhne and Pryce: what is the normal sentence for their crime? – The Guardian

“The eight month prison sentences imposed on Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce are well within the normal range for such offences but slightly longer than many had expected.”

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The Guardian, 11th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jimmy Savile: Police failed to join the dots, HMIC report concludes – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 12th, 2013 in child abuse, complaints, news, police, reports, sexual offences, victims by sally

“Police buried sex abuse allegations against Jimmy Savile in files marked ‘restricted’ and ‘sensitive’ because of his celebrity status, a damning report has revealed.”

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Daily Telegraph, 12th March 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Related link: “Mistakes were made.” HMIC’s review into allegations and intelligence material concerning Jimmy Savile between 1964 and 2012 (PDF)