Children: Private Law Update – Family Law Week

“Alex Verdan QC of 4 Paper Buildings considers several recent important judgments covering a range of private law issues concerning children.”

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Family Law Week, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Re-offending rates reach record level – BBC News

Posted May 24th, 2012 in news, recidivists, sentencing, statistics by sally

“A record number of offenders sentenced for serious crimes had committed previous offences, according to figures for 2011.”

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BBC News, 24th May 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Time extended for appeals under Extradition Act – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 24th, 2012 in appeals, extradition, news, Supreme Court, time limits by sally

“The Supreme Court has ruled that there should be a discretion in exceptional circumstances for judges to extend time for service of appeals against extradition, where the statutory time limits would otherwise operate to prevent an appeal in a manner conflicting with the right of access to an appeal process under Article 6(1) of the Human Rights Convention.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

UK to resist giving prisoners the vote despite European court ruling – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2012 in delay, elections, human rights, news, prisons by sally

“David Cameron believes he will be able to resist implementing a ruling from the European court of human rights that prisoners must be granted the right to vote during his time in Downing Street.”

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Work to rule’ blow to troubled civil courts service – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 24th, 2012 in civil justice, courts, news by sally

“New evidence of a civil courts service reaching breaking point has emerged with staff working to rule and one county court asking law firms not to increase its ‘already vast workload’ by chasing work in arrears.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 24th May 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

A 3 minute law degree? Clever but no mention of Eddie Stobart barristers – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2012 in legal education, news by sally

“Students deciding whether to shell out for a law degree will be greatly helped by initiatives like Birkbeck’s taster.”

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

SARs ruling brings relief to law firms – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 24th, 2012 in appeals, banking, damages, law firms, money laundering, news by sally

“A Court of Appeal ruling on anti-money-laundering obligations will bring relief for businesses, including law firms, and remind lawyers of the importance of having appropriate systems to evidence concerns leading to suspicious activity reports (SARs).”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 24th May 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ken Clarke: popular press to blame for thousands of criminals being in jail needlessly – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 24th, 2012 in lord chancellor, media, news, prisons by sally

“Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has blamed the popular press for putting thousands of criminals in jail who do not need to be there.”

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Farepak victims await directors ruling – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2012 in company directors, credit unions, disqualification, news by sally

“Victims of the collapse of Christmas hamper firm Farepak could be a step closer to justice as the company’s directors face a judge in London’s high court.”

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The Guardian, 24th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Why no public appointment hearings for UK’s new European Court of Human Rights judge? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in courts, human rights, judges, news by sally

“The Guardian reported yesterday that ‘MPs aiming to claw back powers from Europe have secretly interviewed candidates to become Britain’s next judge at the European court of human rights’. Oliver Heald MP said that a group of MPs from the three main political parties met the 3 candidates, Raquel Agnello QC, Paul Mahoney and Ben Emmerson QC. The aim is ‘to improve democratic accountability’.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Wikileaks: UK Supreme Court to decide on Julian Assange – BBC News

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in extradition, news, sexual offences, Supreme Court by sally

“A decision on whether Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be extradited to Sweden will be given next Wednesday, the UK Supreme Court has said.”

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BBC News, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Pair jailed for rape of Luton schoolgirl have their sentences doubled – BBC News

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in child abuse, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

“Two men who raped an 11-year-old girl in Luton have had their ‘unduly lenient’ sentences more than doubled.”

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BBC News, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mediation a success in civil justice system – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in civil justice, costs, dispute resolution, news by sally

“Bill Wood, who is the acting Chair of the Civil Mediation Council, talks about the success of mediation in the civil justice system.”

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Ministry of Justice, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

European Court of Human Rights retreats but doesn’t surrender on prisoner votes – UK Human Rights

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in elections, human rights, news, prisons, rule of law by sally

“The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that states must allow for at least some prisoners to vote, but that states have a wide discretion as to deciding which prisoners. This amounts to a retreat on prisoner votes, but certainly no surrender. As I predicted, the court reaffirmed the principles set out in Hirst No. 2, that an automatic and indiscriminate bans breach the European Convention on Human Rights, but also reaffirmed that it was up to states to decide how to remove those indiscriminate bans.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Addicts to lose benefits if they refuse treatment – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in alcohol abuse, benefits, drug abuse, medical treatment, news by sally

“Alcoholics and drug addicts will lose their benefits if they refuse to accept treatment, under plans to be announced today.”

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prisoners must be given right to vote, European court rules – The Guardian

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in elections, human rights, news, prisons, rule of law by sally

“Prisoners in the UK must be given the right to vote, the European court of human rights (ECHR) has ruled, though ministers may determine which inmates should be enfranchised.”

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Don’t rely on human rights in a dismissal claim – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in appeals, doctors, hospitals, human rights, news, unfair dismissal by sally

“For a government much divided about rights of employees and the Beecroft Report that proposes curtailing them, some relief is provided by this Court of Appeal ruling, a further blow to those who have argued that Article 6 can be deployed against their employers.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Robert and Vincent Tchenguiz launch bid to clear their names – The Independent

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in banking, fraud, judicial review, news by sally

“Government fraud investigators came under attack today as two property magnates arrested during an inquiry into a failed Icelandic bank launched a High Court fight to clear their names.”

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The Independent, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jack Straw could face legal action over rendition claims within a month – Daily Telegraph

“Lawyers for two Libyan dissidents and their families are preparing to issue legal proceedings against Jack Straw and a former spy, it was reported.”

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Strasbourg’s prisoner votes judgment amounts to a retreat, but no surrender – The Guardian

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in elections, human rights, news, prisons, rule of law by sally

“The government should now accept its responsibilities under the human rights convention. Any other reaction will significantly harm the rule of law.”

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The Guardian, 22nd May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk