Centuries of open justice threatened by secret courts – The Independent

Posted October 20th, 2011 in intelligence services, international relations, news, private hearings by tracey

“Secret justice looks set to be a regular feature of British courts and tribunals when the intelligence services want to protect their sources of information.  Civil courts, immigration panels and even coroner’s inquests would go into secret session if the Government rules that hearing evidence in public could be a threat to national security. The proposals, which run counter to a centuries-old British tradition of open justice, were introduced to a sparsely attended House of Commons yesterday by the Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke – and met almost no opposition. The planned changes to the British justice system follow lobbying of the Government by the CIA.”

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The Independent, 20th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police chiefs ‘authorised undercover police officers to give false evidence in court’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 20th, 2011 in evidence, news, perjury, police by tracey

“Senior police chiefs authorised undercover police officers to give false evidence in court to protect their cover as environmental protesters, it was claimed last night.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Courts need not be bound by Europe, says top judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 20th, 2011 in human rights, judges, judgments, news, precedent by tracey

“Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice, said the UK need only ‘take account’ of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights but not necessarily follow it.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th october 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Top Gear did not libel carmaker Tesla, high court rules – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2011 in defamation, malicious falsehood, media, news by sally

“Electric sports carmaker Tesla Motors has lost a major part of its high court libel claim against the BBC’s Top Gear programme, but is still suing the corporation for malicious falsehood over an episode that showed the company’s Roadster model running out of battery in a race.”

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The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Energy efficiency scheme will begin in a year as Energy Act comes into force – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 19th, 2011 in carbon dioxide emissions, energy, legislation, news by sally

“The Energy Act has become law, putting in place a Government-backed scheme that will enable new energy efficiency measures in both domestic and commercial properties to be undertaken at no up-front cost. Costs will be paid over time through energy bills.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th October 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Lawyer explains why hacking victim won £425,000 – The Independent

Posted October 19th, 2011 in compensation, interception, media, news, privacy by sally

“The lawyer who advised News Group to pay £425,000 to Gordon Taylor said today the company was in an unprecedented position because the Professional Footballers Association chief had evidence that his phone had been hacked.”

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The Independent, 19th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ken Clarke plans secret court hearings to avoid revealing intelligence – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2011 in courts, disclosure, intelligence services, news, private hearings by sally

“Intelligence gathered by MI5 and MI6, even if obtained by torture, will never be disclosed in court proceedings under proposals published by the justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke.”

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The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Go-ahead for Brent library closure appeal – The Independent

Posted October 19th, 2011 in appeals, budgets, demonstrations, judicial review, libraries, local government, news by sally

“A judge has ordered an urgent hearing of an appeal against a landmark decision giving the go-ahead for the closure of six libraries.”

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The Independent, 19th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Libel reform: final report of the joint committee on the draft defamation bill – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2011 in bills, defamation, news, trial without jury by sally

“Read MPs and peers’ verdict on the government’s plans to reform libel law.”

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The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Libel reform: juries should be dropped for most trials, says committee – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2011 in bills, defamation, news, trial without jury by sally

“Libel trials by jury should be abolished for all but exceptional cases involving public figures, a parliamentary committee has recommended.”

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The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Three articles on the Localism Bill – 11 KBW

Posted October 19th, 2011 in bills, local government, news by sally

Localism Bill: Senior Pay and Referenda (PDF)

The Localism Bill and the General Power of Competence (PDF)

Localism Bill: Commercial Purpose, Governance and Conduct (PDF)

11 KBW, 12th October 2011

Source: www.11kbw.com

Discount Rates: Why are we here and where are we going? – Byrom Street Chambers

Posted October 19th, 2011 in damages, indexation, news, personal injuries by sally

“This paper is presented as part of a lecture providing an overview of Discounts Rates. The first part of the lecture will provide the background to where we are with the use of discount rates in assessing damages in personal injury cases. The second part of the talk will be delivered by Ian Gunn and Richard Cropper, of Personal Financial Planning Ltd, and is going to examine the indexation and investment options that the Lord Chancellor may wish to consider in resetting the discount rate currently under review. In the third part we will address the considerations that need to be taken account of when advising clients.”

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Byrom Chambers, 6th October 2011

Source: www.byromstreet.com

Appeal court riot ruling is firm but fair – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2011 in appeals, magistrates, news, public order, sentencing, violent disorder by sally

“Severe punishment for those taking part in public disorder is right, as a matter of law and of common sense.”

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The Guardian, 18th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Analysis: Laying down the law on riots – BBC News

Posted October 19th, 2011 in appeals, magistrates, news, public order, sentencing, violent disorder by sally

“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.”

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BBC News, 18th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Home secretary should lose power to meddle in extradition cases, panel says – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2011 in extradition, human rights, inquiries, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

“The home secretary should lose the power to intervene on human rights grounds in extradition cases, an official judge-led inquiry has recommended.”

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The Guardian, 18th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Society calls for delay to legal aid bill – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 18th, 2011 in bills, legal aid, ministers' powers and duties, news by sally

“The Law Society today called on the government to delay passage of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, after Jonathan Djanogly was stripped of responsibility for regulating claims management companies.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 18th October 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK extradition review: Key cases – BBC News

Posted October 18th, 2011 in extradition, news by sally

“The coalition government pledged to review extradition. The review, led by Sir Scott Baker, a former Court of Appeal judge, looked at extradition arrangements to the US and the European Union, which are covered by two separate pieces of law.”

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BBC News, 18th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Examiners will not automatically rule computerisations of mental acts unpatentable, IPO says – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 18th, 2011 in inventions, news, patents by sally

“The UK’s Intellectual Property Office has changed its guidance on how its reviewers will consider the ‘mental act’ exemption to patentability when assessing patent applications for computer-implemented inventions.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th October 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

Lord Hanningfield seeks damages over ‘unlawful arrest’ – BBC News

Posted October 18th, 2011 in damages, detention, expenses, news, trespass, warrants by sally

“Lord Hanningfield has threatened legal action over his ‘unlawful arrest’ over money claimed when he was leader of Essex County Council.”

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BBC News, 18th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Morrissey’s NME libel case: judge to decide on jury trial – The Guardian

Posted October 18th, 2011 in defamation, media, news, racism by sally

“Britain’s most senior libel judge is considering whether to grant Morrissey a high court trial before a jury over an NME magazine interview he claims portrayed him as a ‘racist and a blatant hypocrite’.”

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The Guardian, 18th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk