Category: public interest

No charges following death of Raymond Cutkelvin – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted June 25th, 2010 in assisted suicide, Crown Prosecution Service, press releases, public interest by sally

“Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, has today said that while there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Alan Cutkelvin Rees and Dr Michael Irwin in relation to the death of Raymond Cutkelvin at a Dignitas clinic in Switzerland in February 2007, such a prosecution would not be in the public interest and no further action should be taken against them.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 25th June 2010

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

No prosecution for right-to-die doctor – BBC News

Posted June 25th, 2010 in assisted suicide, Crown Prosecution Service, doctors, news, public interest by sally

“A former GP and right-to-die campaigner who took a man to a euthanasia clinic in Switzerland will not be prosecuted.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th June 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord Lester’s bill a ‘catalyst’ for libel reform – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 3rd, 2010 in bills, defamation, defences, news, public interest by sally

“Liberal Democrat peer and barrister Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC has introduced a private member’s bill to reform the country’s ‘archaic’ libel laws.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd June 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Was the News of the World exposé on the Duchess of York justified in law? – The Guardian

Posted May 26th, 2010 in media, news, privacy, public interest, royal family by sally

“Analysis of whether the News of the World can claim that they had a public interest justification in exposing Sarah Ferguson.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

CPS defends Neath teacher glue stick trial decision – BBC News

Posted May 20th, 2010 in assault, Crown Prosecution Service, news, public interest, teachers by sally

“The Crown Prosecution Service has defended a decision to prosecute a Neath teacher after a boy accused her of hitting him with a glue stick.”

Full story

BBC News, 20th May 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Independent wins a ‘hugely important’ victory for the vulnerable – The Independent

Posted April 1st, 2010 in appeals, Court of Protection, law reports, media, news, private hearings, public interest by sally

“A controversial court which hears all of its cases in secret will open its doors to the media from today, following a successful legal challenge by The Independent which was immediately hailed as a ‘hugely important’ victory for transparency.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st April 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

No charges following deaths of Sir Edward and Lady Downes – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted March 26th, 2010 in assisted suicide, Crown Prosecution Service, press releases, public interest by sally

“The Crown Prosecution Service has decided that, while there is sufficient evidence to charge Caractacus Downes with an offence of assisting the suicide of his parents, Sir Edward and Lady Joan Downes, it is not in the public interest to do so.”

Full ress release

Crown Prosecution Service, 19th March 2010

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Jack Straw unveils plan to curb libel tourism – The Guardian

Posted March 24th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

“Overseas claimants will be discouraged from launching libel cases in UK courts and a ‘public interest’ defence may be introduced to protect investigative journalism, under legal changes unveiled today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Reform of libel laws will protect freedom of expression – The Guardian

Posted March 23rd, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

“Justice secretary Jack Straw explains why he is proposing a law to curtail ‘libel tourism’ and create a ‘public interest’ defence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Snoop Dogg: US rapper wins £100,000 legal fight to visit Britain – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 9th, 2010 in appeals, news, public interest, public order, visas by sally

“The controversial American rapper, Snoop Dogg, has won an expensive legal battle against the British government, after it tried to ban him from visiting the country.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th March 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Dangerous terrorist suspects are on the streets because of judges’ decisions, watchdog says – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 4th, 2010 in control orders, judiciary, news, public interest, terrorism by sally

“Dangerous terror suspects are walking the streets as the result of a ruling by the UK Supreme Court, a terrorism watchdog has said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd March 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Norris v Government of United States of America (No 2) – WLR Daily

Posted March 1st, 2010 in extradition, law reports, public interest, Supreme Court by sally

Norris v Government of United States of America (No 2) [2009] UKSC 9; [2010] WLR (D) 52

“It was only if some quite exceptionally compelling feature, or combination of features, was present that interference with the right to family life under art 8(1) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms consequent upon extradition would be other than proportionate to the objective that extradition served.”

WLR Daily, 25th February 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

In re Guardian News and Media Ltd and others – WLR Daily

Posted February 1st, 2010 in freezing injunctions, law reports, media, privacy, public interest, Supreme Court, terrorism by sally

In re Guardian News and Media Ltd and others [2010] UKSC 1; [2010] WLR (D) 13 

“Where individuals challenged freezing orders made against them under the Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2006 and the Al-Qaida and Taliban (United Nations Measures) Order 2006 the general public interest in publishing a full report of the proceedings in which they were named justified curtailing their right to respect for their private and family lives.”

WLR Daily, 27th February 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Questions about the decision to prosecute Kay Gilderdale – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted January 26th, 2010 in assisted suicide, attempted murder, attempts, Crown Prosecution Service, murder, press releases, prosecutions, public interest by sally

“A question has arisen as to whether it was in the public interest for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to have prosecuted Kay Gilderdale for attempted murder.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 26th January 2010

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Foreign Office backs down over Binyam Mohamed censorship – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 17th, 2009 in disclosure, intelligence services, news, public interest, torture by sally

“The Foreign Office has made a partial climbdown in its legal bid to suppress intelligence material relating to a British resident who claims he was tortured by American security services.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 17th December 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

David Miliband attacks ‘irresponsible’ judges over Binyam Mohamed – The Times

Posted December 15th, 2009 in disclosure, intelligence services, news, public interest, torture by sally

“Lawyers for the Foreign Secretary launched an extraordinary attack yesterday on High Court judges who want to disclose intelligence material relating to allegations of torture involving the CIA.”

Full story

The Times, 15th December 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Binyam Mohamed torture collusion case returns to court – BBC News

Posted December 14th, 2009 in disclosure, intelligence services, news, public interest, torture by sally

“Three of England’s most senior judges are to hear an appeal by the government against letting the public know about allegations of torture.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jack Straw issues ‘veto’ certificate under the Freedom of Information Act – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 10th, 2009 in disclosure, freedom of information, press releases, public interest, veto by sally

“Justice Secretary Jack Straw has issued a ‘veto’ certificate under section 53 of the Freedom of Information Act, overruling the Information Tribunal’s decision of 23 June 2009.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 10th December 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Judges’ torture ruling harmed UK security, says Foreign Office – The Guardian

Posted November 13th, 2009 in disclosure, intelligence services, news, public interest, torture by sally

“A top Foreign Office official has accused high court judges of damaging Britain’s national security by insisting that CIA evidence of British involvement in torture must be revealed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Information Tribunal overlooked public interest in legal privilege case, says High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 24th, 2009 in disclosure, freedom of information, news, public interest, tribunals by sally

“The Information Tribunal misunderstood part of a Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request and failed to properly adjudicate other parts of it, the High Court has said. The case must be re-considered by the Tribunal.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 23rd July 2009

Source: www.out-law.com