Regulators agree to share more information – Bar Standards Board

“Regulators from across the legal, accountancy, financial and property sectors have signed a formal agreement that will allow even greater sharing of information.”

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Bar Standards Board, 4th May 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Magistrates to sit in community centres in plan to speed up justice – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 8th, 2012 in courts, guilty pleas, magistrates, news, summary judgments by sally

“Ministers are to announce plans to allow magistrates to sit on their own in community centres or police stations in a bid to speed up justice.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Censure of councillor for “sarcastic, lampooning and disrespectful” blog breached his free speech rights – UK Human Rights Blog

“The decision to censure a Welsh councillor for comments on his blog was a disproportionate interference with his right to freedom of expression, the High Court has ruled. This right requires a broad interpretation of what counts as ‘political speech’ – even when the speech is sarcastic and mocking.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 7th May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Drug-drivers to face jail time under new law – The Guardian

Posted May 8th, 2012 in bills, careless driving, drug abuse, drug offences, news by sally

“Drivers found to have taken drugs face a prison sentence of up to six months and a fine of up to £5,000 under new legislation, ministers reveal on Monday.”

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The Guardian, 7th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Magistrates should use online crime maps ahead of sentencing – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 8th, 2012 in compensation, internet, magistrates, news, reports, sentencing by sally

“Magistrates say they should be able to use new online crime maps to give tougher sentences for offenders who are blighting a neighbourhood.”

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Daily Telegraph, 5th May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jeremy Bamber lawyers challenge refusal of appeal – The Guardian

Posted May 8th, 2012 in appeals, Criminal Cases Review Commission, murder, news by sally

“Lawyers acting for the convicted murderer Jeremy Bamber have issued a legal challenge to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) following its decision not to refer his case back to the court of appeal. They say the commission has acted ‘unlawfully, overstepped its powers and usurped the function of the appeal court’.”

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The Guardian, 7th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Suing the corporate soul; parent company down for asbestosis – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 8th, 2012 in asbestos, industrial injuries, news, subsidiary companies by sally

“This may sound like a rather dreary topic, but the problem is vitally important for the proper reach of environmental and personal injury law. Some may have seen from my post on the Erika disaster the difficult issues which can arise when a multi–national (in that case, Total) does business through a number of corporate entities, particularly where they are domiciled in different countries. But the present case is a good example where liabilities are not confined to the party directly responsible for the injury or disaster. Good thing, too, for this claimant, who stood to gain nothing from his former employer, a company now dissolved, or indeed its insurers.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 4th May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Head teachers threaten legal action over ‘flawed’ inspector ratings – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 8th, 2012 in education, judicial review, news, teachers by sally

“Head teachers are threatening legal action over school inspection judgements they consider to be ‘flawed’.”

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Daily Telegraph, 5th May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

London’s criminals to get a break during Olympics as courts close – The Independent

Posted May 8th, 2012 in courts, news, sport by sally

“Almost half of the courtrooms handling the most serious criminal cases in London will be closed down during the Olympics, according to official plans.”

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The Independent, 7th May 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Batang Kali massacre hearing due to start at high court – The Guardian

Posted May 8th, 2012 in armed forces, inquiries, judicial review, news by sally

“The government will be challenged in court on Tuesday to investigate the killing by British troops of 24 Malaysian rubber plantation workers more than 60 years ago.”

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The Guardian, 7th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sexism at the bar may still exist, but women barristers have come a long way – The Guardian

Posted May 4th, 2012 in barristers, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

“I know I wasn’t the only barrister to feel disheartened by this article which appeared on the Guardian’s website on Thursday, written by a woman who had been treated unfairly in the way in which tasks were assigned to her and her fellow pupils during their training. I would not try to claim that sexist attitudes have been eradicated from the bar (or any profession), but it is only fair to acknowledge that the bar has come on leaps and bounds in this respect since I completed pupillage in the early 80s.”

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The Guardian, 4th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Basque terrorism suspect loses court extradition bid – BBC News

Posted May 4th, 2012 in extradition, news, terrorism by sally

“An alleged Basque militant has lost his High Court bid to halt his extradition to Spain on terror-related charges.”

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BBC News, 4th May 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ex-Supreme Court judge and Herbert Smith partner joins Essex Court – Legal Week

Posted May 4th, 2012 in judges, news by sally

“Former Herbert Smith partner and UK Supreme Court judge Lord Collins of Mapesbury has joined Essex Court Chambers after retiring from the UK’s top court last year. Lord Collins started at Essex Court this week as a full-time arbitrator. He retired from the Supreme Court in 2011 after serving two years on the highest judicial bench.”

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Legal Week, 3rd May 2012

Source: www.legalweek.com

When does an expert report constitute “independent evidence” of torture? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 4th, 2012 in evidence, expert witnesses, news, torture by sally

“Whether expert evidence relied upon by an asylum seeker amounted to ‘independent evidence’ of torture was the key issue before the Court of Appeal in this case . The issue arose in the context of AM’s claim against the Home Office for wrongful imprisonment contrary to the UK Border Agency’s Enforcement Instructions and Guidance. The Guidance, which contains the policy of the Agency on detentions (amongst other things), says that where there is ‘independent evidence’ that a person has been tortured, that person is suitable for detention only in ‘very exceptional circumstances’.”

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Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Battle of the bus lanes: Addison Lee injuncted by High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 4th, 2012 in freedom of expression, injunctions, news, taxis, transport by sally

“Transport for London (TfL) have succeeded in their High Court application for an injunction restraining Addison Lee Taxis from encouraging drivers to use London bus lanes. Mr Justice Eder ruled that the injunction would not breach Addison Lee Chairman John Griffin’s free expression rights.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd May 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

 

Sex abuser Clifford Lown jailed after filming rape – BBC News

Posted May 4th, 2012 in child abuse, news, rape, sentencing by sally

“A man who filmed himself raping a woman he had abused when she was a child has been jailed for 20 years.”

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BBC News, 3rd May 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Businesses ‘should help prisoners get work’ – BBC News

Posted May 4th, 2012 in imprisonment, news, rehabilitation by sally

“Major employers should give prisoners work experience placements and training and help more ex-offenders get work, Ken Clarke has said.”

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BBC News, 4th May 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Internet pornography: government to consult on protecting children – The Guardian

Posted May 4th, 2012 in children, internet, news, pornography by sally

“The government is to consult on tough measures to protect children from internet pornography. Under plans being draw up by Downing Street, it would be up to customers to ‘opt-in’ to receive adult content online when they take out a broadband contract.”

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The Guardian, 4th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Teenager convicted for harassing Pagan – Daily Telegraph

“The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, consistently provoked the female member of staff over her beliefs in what is understood to be the first case of its kind. A court heard how the defendant discovered through friends that his victim was a Pagan – a legally recognised religion – and then ‘jumped on the bandwagon’. He pleaded guilty to religiously aggravated harassment over a period.”

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Daily Telegraph, 3rd May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Politicians should have thick skins, judge rules in ‘bitchy’ councillor case – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 4th, 2012 in freedom of expression, internet, local government, news by sally

“People have a right to lampoon and criticise politicians and public officials under the Human Rights Act, the High Court has ruled.”

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Daily Telegraph, 4th May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk