Gerry Adams wins appeal against Maze Prison escape convictions – BBC News
‘Gerry Adams has won his appeal to have two convictions for attempting to escape from prison in the 1970s overturned.’
BBC News, 13th May 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: trials
Old Bailey jury trials to resume this week – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Two jury trials will resume at the Old Bailey this week as first steps toward Crown court cases restarting around the country. However, the criminal bar warned that a resumption of normal service “remains many weeks off”.’
Law Society's Gazette, 10th May 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Non-jury trials could help clear coronavirus backlog, says QC – The Guardian
‘Defendants should be allowed to opt for trial by judge rather than in front of a jury, a prominent human rights lawyer has proposed, as a means of partially restarting the criminal justice system.’
The Guardian, 26th April 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Judiciary sets up working party to bring back jury trials – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The prospect of jury trials restarting has come closer with news that the judiciary has set up a working party to consider how they can be brought back as soon as it is safe to do so. The news comes shortly after lord chancellor Robert Buckland said he wanted jury trials back up and running as quickly as possible.’
Law Society's Gazette, 24th April 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
East Finchley shooting: Man to face fifth trial over same murder charges – BBC News
‘An Old Bailey judge has ruled that a man can go on trial on the same murder charges for a fifth time.’
BBC News, 22nd April 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“Justice in the time of Coronavirus”: Considering Diplock Courts and Majority Verdicts in light of COVID-19 – Thomas More Chambers
‘The coronavirus (COVID-19) and the government “lockdown” has bought about interesting times and the Coronavirus Act 20201, in particular ss.53-57 (with Schedules 23-27).’
Thomas More Chambers, 15th April 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
Fully remote jury test a ‘success for open justice’ – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Campaign group Justice has run an experimental fully remote jury trial to test whether it could be a fair alternative to face-to-face hearings during the coronavirus lockdown.’
Law Society's Gazette, 20th April 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
COVID-19 and remote trials – 4 New Square
‘The first judgment has now been reported on the effect of COVID-19 on a forthcoming trial. In Re One Blackfriars Ltd, Hyde v. Nygate [2020] EWHC 845(Ch), John Kimbell QC, sitting as a Deputy High Court judge, refused to adjourn a trial due to start in June but ruled that it should proceed remotely by video-link.’
4 New Square, 14th April 2020
Source: www.4newsquare.com
Judges cannot be expected to undertake their full list remotely: senior members of judiciary warn – Local Government Lawyer
‘All judges and leadership judges need to recognise that doing as much as possible remotely “does not mean, and cannot mean, trying to do everything remotely”, there senior members of the judiciary have warned.’
Local Government Lawyer, 15th April 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
The impact of Coronavirus, part 1: trial by jury during a pandemic – 6KBW College Hill
‘Covid 19: the current situation is so fast moving that anything written will almost inevitably be out of date by the time it is typed. However, following the effective “lock down” from 8.30pm on 23 March 2020 it may be that there are fewer further changes until restrictions can be eased, and it is useful to reflect on the effect so far.’
6KBW College Hill, 30th March 2020
Source: blog.6kbw.com
Jurors packed into crowded courts: how the government defied coronavirus advice – The Guardian
‘Trials may now be suspended in England, but forcing people to mix in cramped rooms during a coronavirus crisis was risky at best.’
The Guardian, 23rd March 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Government identifies justice system’s keyworkers – Legal Futures
‘Legal professionals involved in court and tribunal hearings, as well as those advising people deprived of their liberty or on executing wills are ‘keyworkers’, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.’
Legal Futures, 23rd March 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Jury trials on hold in England and Wales due to coronavirus fears – The Guardian
‘All jury trials in England and Wales are being temporarily suspended because of the risk of spreading coronavirus infections, the lord chief justice has announced.’
The Guardian, 23rd March 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Coronavirus: Jury trials, message from the Lord Chief Justice – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
‘The impact of the public health emergency on the operation of the courts has been under constant review. In all jurisdictions steps are being taken to enable as many hearings as possible to be conducted with some or all of the participants attending by telephone, video-link or online. Many court hearings will be able to continue as normal with appropriate precautions being taken. We must make every effort to maintain a functioning court system in support of the administration of justice and rule of law.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 17th March 2020
Source: www.judiciary.uk
