Easter Break
There will be no posts over the Easter weekend (Friday 6th – Monday 9th inclusive) during which time the Library will be closed. We will resume posting on Tuesday 10th April.
Category: news
Prison Law Bulletin – Garden Court Chambers
“The Garden Court Prison Law Team presents the third issue of its ‘Prison Law Bulletin’.”
Garden Court Chambers, 5th April 2012
Source: www.gcprisonlaw.wordpress.com
Bar Council Calls for Government to Protect Civil Liberties – The Bar Council
“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has called for the Government to amend further the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) to protect civil liberties and open justice.”
The Bar Council, 4th April 2012
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
NHS reforms ‘will mean more litigation’ – Law Society’s Gazette
“The government’s reforms to the NHS in England are set to cause a wave of legal difficulties for local authorities, solicitors were warned this week.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 5th April 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
CoA pilots mediation scheme in bid to cut litigation costs – The Lawyer
“The Court of Appeal (CoA) is to pilot a mediation scheme for all personal injury and contract claims up to the value of £100,000 for which permission to appeal is given.”
The Lawyer, 4th April 2012
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Daniel Bartlam – was the court right to lift his anonymity? – The Guardian
“The 15-year-old who killed his mother was named to deter similar terrible crimes. But is such publicity counterproductive?”
The Guardian, 5th April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Old but not forgotten: spring cleaning the statute book – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
“Pub quizzes often include a round or two on old laws supposedly still in force – the likes of being able to drive livestock over London Bridge, or to have cakes and ale during exams, or whether the death penalty is still in force for arson in the Royal Docks. A number of future answers are about to be altered at the behest of the Law Commission, which has compiled a long list of statutory deadwood to be felled this summer by an axe in the form of the Statute Law (Repeals) Bill.”
Full story
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 4th April 2012
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
Author Chris McGrath faces six figure legal bill after unfavourable Amazon reviews case is struck out – The Independent
“An author who tried to sue a father of three from the West Midlands over comments made in a series of unfavourable reviews on Amazon is facing a six figure legal bill after a judge struck out his case.”
The Indpendent, 4th April 2012
Source: www.independent.co.uk
How will we even know a closed judgment exists? – The Guardian
“What proposals for closed hearings would mean for press freedom.”
The Guardian, 4th April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Automatic porn censorship legislation proposed – OUT-LAW.com
“Internet service providers (ISPs) would be required to prevent customers accessing pornographic images unless those customers actively notify the ISPs that they want to access the material if draft new UK legislation being proposed receives backing.”
OUT-LAW.com, 4th April 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Secret court hearings: Q&A – Daily Telegraph
“Ken Clarke wants to allow evidence to be heard in secret where it would compromise national security. Here we explain why there is such controversy over the Government’s plan to hold some court cases and inquests behind closed doors.”
Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Watchdog criticises police over Mark Kennedy’s undercover tapes – The Guardian
“Police have been criticised for their role in withholding crucial surveillance recordings made by undercover policeman Mark Kennedy. The tapes were kept from activists who were being prosecuted for planning to occupy one of Britain’s largest power stations. The contents contained vital evidence for the activists’ defence.”
The Guardian, 4th April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Daft’ FoI requests can be ignored – Law Society’s Gazette
“Public bodies can safely ignore requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) for their plans to deal with zombie invasions. Graham Smith, deputy information commissioner, told the Solicitors in Local Government annual weekend school last week that ‘silly and daft’ requests would be covered by existing guidance on vexatious requests.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 5th April 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
IPCC investigates arrest of man at centre of Met police race row – The Guardian
“The police watchdog is investigating why a black man who used his mobile phone to record an officer racially insulting him was arrested for a crime he said he did not commit, less than six hours after complaining about his treatment.”
The Guardian, 4th April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ken Clarke defends secret courts plans after Nick Clegg criticisms – The Guardian
“The justice secretary, Ken Clarke, has defended proposals to create a new generation of secret courts in the face of criticism from Nick Clegg and parliament’s human rights committee, saying the plans will make the system more accountable and more conducive to intelligence sharing with other countries.”
The Guardian, 4th April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Gratuitous’ American Apparel ads banned – The Guardian
“The advertising watchdog has banned an ad campaign by American Apparel featuring semi-naked young women, after investigating a complaint that it is ‘pornographic and exploitative’.”
The Guardian, 4th April 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
1215 and All That -Speech by the Rt Hon Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
1215 and All That (PDF)
Speech by the Rt Hon Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
Irish Legal History Society Lecture, 26th March 2012
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Secret trials: ‘explore alternatives’ – Law Society’s Gazette
“Government proposals to extend the use of secret hearings in cases where evidence might compromise national security are a radical departure from the UK’s ‘traditions of open justice and fairness’, MPs and peers said today.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 4th April 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
