Court report ban ‘could be eased’ – BBC News
“Research should be carried out into whether juries are prejudiced by media reports of criminal cases, Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has said.”
BBC News, 25th May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: news
Blow to Commercial Court as planned e-filing of documents is put back to 2009 – Law Society’s Gazette
“The electronic filing of documents in England and Wales courts looks likely to be delayed by at least a year, the Gazette can reveal.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 24th May 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
ABS threat to firms provokes Bill defeat – Law Society’s Gazette
“The Legal Services Bill completed its passage through the House of Lords last week, but not before the opposition inflicted one final defeat on the government over concerns about the impact of alternative business structures (ABSs) on high street law firms.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 24th May 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Society slams government over HIPs ‘shambles’ – Law Society’s Gazette
“The Law Society this week accused the government of presiding over ‘a complete shambles’ after it delayed the introduction of home information packs (HIPs) until 1 August and said they will initially only be required for four-bedroom properties or larger.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 24th May 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Competition regulator to probe Sky’s stake in ITV – OUT-LAW.com
“The Competition Commission will investigate BSkyB’s acquisition of a 17.9% stake in ITV. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has referred the purchase to the Commission after reports from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and media regulator Ofcom.”
OUT-LAW.com, 24th May 2007
Source: www.out-law.com
Who can save the Freedom of Information Act? – The Independent
“MPs dealt a massive blow to open government last week by voting themselves an exemption to the right-to-know law. Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, considers the next move.”
The Independent, 25th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Woman gets suicide advice payout – BBC News
“A Citizens Advice Bureau advisor who was sacked after she phoned a suicidal woman’s GP was awarded £18,000 damages.”
BBC News, 24th May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Reid threatens to suspend human rights laws after terror suspects go missing – The Independent
“John Reid faced growing anger as he signalled the Government was ready to declare that Britain faced an “emergency” over terrorism and opt out of human rights legislation.”
The Independent, 25th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Telephone hearings have benefits but there’s a sting in the tail – The Times
“It could be argued that the courts have been somewhat late in embracing information technology. Database and order production systems only came late in the day and the majority of judges, despite being provided with computers, printers and the like, still tend to rely on writing their notes rather than typing them into their laptops. Telephone hearings are also a recent phenomenon.”
The Times, 25th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
MPs have no reason to be exempt from FoI law, watchdog warns – The Independent
“A campaign by MPs to remove themselves from open government laws in order to protect the privacy of their constituents has been seriously undermined by the UK’s information watchdog.”
The Independent, 25th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Legal process in dock as judges rule ex-wife is worth record £48m payout – The Times
“An overhaul of the law on how to split a divorcing couple’s assets was urged by senior judges yesterday as they ruled that a woman can keep her £48 million award – the biggest ordered by British courts in legal history.”
The Times, 25th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
‘Devoted’ husband gets life for killing wife – The Guardian
“A husband who killed his wife after she begged him to help her die was jailed for life today.”
The Guardian, 25th May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ministry may threaten judges’ independence – The Times
“Judges’ independence will come under pressure as they are urged to tailor sentences according to prison spaces under the Ministry of Justice, a former senior Conservative minister said yesterday.”
The Times, 25th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Court upholds £48m divorce award – BBC News
“A millionaire businessman has lost an appeal over a £48m divorce award made to his former wife.”
BBC News, 24th May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Bid to put off info time-wasters – BBC News
“Plans are due to be unveiled to deter ‘pointless and mischievous’ requests under the Freedom of Information Act.”
BBC News, 24th May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Record £125m in assets recovered from criminals – The Guardian
“Luxury mansions, classic cars ranging from Bentleys to Lamborghinis, millions in cash and even racehorses are among the record £125m-worth of assets recovered from criminals in the last year. Claiming the seizures as a great success, the Home Office will today announce greater powers to confiscate criminals’ wealth.”
The Guardian, 24th May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Suicide banker’s NatWest case fear – Financial Times
“Neil Coulbeck, the retired bank executive who could have been an important witness in the NatWest Three fraud case, feared he might “get dragged into” the affair at the time he died, his widow told an inquest on Wednesday.”
Financial Times, 23rd May 2007
Source: www.ft.com
UK ‘politics of fear eroding human rights’ – The Independent
“Tony Blair’s government has been condemned for exploiting the ‘politics of fear’ by bringing in tougher anti-terror legislation, cracking down on asylum-seekers and allowing the prison population to soar.”
The Independent, 24th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Related link: Amnesty International Report 2007
Squatter wins £2m London plot after 18-year stay – The Independent
For most people a property on Hampstead Heath would be many mortgages or lottery tickets away, but a squatter has been granted the rights to a plot of land worth £2m for nothing.
The Independent, 24th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Lord Chancellor acts to heal rift with judges over justice ministry – The Times
“The Lord Chancellor moved to defuse the unprecedented rift with the judiciary yesterday, making a personal intervention with the Lord Chief Justice to resolve the deadlock over the Ministry of Justice.”
The Times, 24th May 2007
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
