Lord Chief Justice suggests using Skype and FaceTime in courts – The Independent

“Video-call technology such as Skype and FaceTime could be used to allow criminal defendants to take part in court hearings from home, the most senior judge in England and Wales has said. In his first press conference, the new Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, said the use of such applications could reduce the cost of hearings held in the run up to a trial.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th November 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

I swear that the current procedure for taking oaths in court needs reform – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted November 4th, 2013 in Christianity, criminal procedure, Islam, magistrates, news, oaths, trials, witnesses by sally

“Do you object to swearing an oath on the Bible? Sorry, I hope that question didn’t put you off your stride when settling down to read this article. It’s the same question witnesses are asked when they’re about to give evidence in criminal trials.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 1st November 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Televising of court of appeal proceedings starts this week – The Guardian

Posted October 31st, 2013 in appeals, courts, media, news, trials by michael

“Proceedings in the court of appeal are due to be televised from Thursday [31st October], casting aside decades of judicial suspicion about the impact of cameras in the courtroom.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Phone-hacking: trial of Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks to begin – The Guardian

“The trial of former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and others linked with alleged phone-hacking at the now-defunct News of the World will begin on Monday at the Old Bailey, kicking off what is likely to be one of the longest criminal trials in recent memory.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Advances in open justice in England and Wales – Speech by the Master of the Rolls

“Master of the Rolls speech: Hong Kong lecture – 18 October 2013.”

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 22nd October 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

R. v. Farooqi – Has the Court of Appeal Compounded an Injustice? – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

“Can a defendant ever have a fair trial or be safely convicted if his advocate is incompetent, asks Matthew Scott.”

Full story

Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 19th October 2013

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk

Military at risk of paralysis from human rights cases, think-tank argues – The Guardian

Posted October 18th, 2013 in armed forces, human rights, news, reports, trials by tracey

“British military operations are at risk of being undermined by human rights law and health and safety red tape, a research institute has warned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Veils and ignorance: defendant not allowed to wear niqaab when giving evidence – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 19th, 2013 in courts, evidence, freedom of expression, human rights, identification, Islam, news, trials, women by sally

“The ruling by HHJ Murphy in Blackfriars Crown Court this Monday that a defendant in a criminal trial should not be allowed to wear a niqaab (face veil) whilst giving her evidence has prompted calls for a public debate about the wearing of face veils in public more generally. Adam Wagner has already commented on the case here. A summary and analysis of the decision follows below.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th September 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Cross-Examination in the Dock – BBC Unreliable Evidence

Posted September 17th, 2013 in cross-examination, news, trials, victims, witnesses by sally

“In the first of a news series, Clive Anderson asks if overly aggressive cross-examination of witnesses in court turns trial by jury into trial by ordeal.”

Listen

BBC Unreliable Evidence, 11th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The rule of law and the prosecutor – Attorney General’s Office

“Attorney General emphasises the prosecutor’s role in making sure that trials are fair, politically neutral & human rights are defended. Originally given at the 18th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors, Moscow.This is the text of the speech as drafted, which may differ slightly from the delivered version.”

Full speech

Attorney General’s Office, 9th September 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

Has the Internet Destroyed Trial by Jury? – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

Posted August 19th, 2013 in bias, contempt of court, criminal procedure, evidence, internet, juries, news, sentencing, trials by tracey

“The Internet has changed the world and many say the law is struggling to keep up, writes Lyndon Harris.”

Full story

Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 17th August 2013

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk

Robert Colover investigation: the misunderstandings around sex offence trials – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted August 9th, 2013 in barristers, children, news, pornography, sentencing, sexual offences, trials, victims by sally

“Calamitous comments by barrister Robert Colover have made the headlines this week as he referred to the victim of sexual offending as “predatory” and “sexually experienced”. The defendant was appearing for sentence before His Honour Judge Peters QC sitting at Snaresbrook Crown Court for two counts of making (downloading) extreme pornography (not images of children) and one count of sexual activity with a child. He received a sentence of eight months imprisonment suspended for two years. He was 41-years-old and she was 13-years-old. The CPS, who instructed the barrister to prosecute this case from their list of accredited advocates, has issued a press release that the comments should not have been used and initiated an investigation.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 8th August 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Man accused of infecting women with HIV virus dies in hospital aged 34 – The Independent

Posted August 9th, 2013 in grievous bodily harm, health, HIV, news, trials by sally

“A man accused of infecting two women with the HIV virus has died in hospital.”

Full story

The Independent, 8th August 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Barrister who called child sex abuse victim ‘predatory’ criticised by DPP – The Guardian

“A prosecuting barrister and a judge involved in a sex abuse case during which the 13-year-old-victim was described as “predatory” have been referred to separate inquiries.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hobbs v Financial Conduct Authority (formerly Financial Services Authority) – WLR Daily

Posted August 2nd, 2013 in appeals, financial regulation, law reports, notification, trials, tribunals by sally

Hobbs v Financial Conduct Authority (formerly Financial Services Authority) [2013] EWCA Civ 918; [2013] WLR (D) 328

“A decision by the Financial Services Authority to take no further action against the addressee of a warning notice or decision notice did not become irrevocable or take effect as a discontinuance of proceedings unless it had been communicated to that individual by a notice in accordance with section 389 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.”

WLR Daily, 29th July 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

PC Keith Blakelock trial date set for next year – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2013 in murder, news, police, trials, violent disorder by sally

“A provisional trial date has been set at the Old Bailey for a 44-year-old man charged with the murder of PC Keith Blakelock during the Broadwater Farm riots in 1985.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Regina (Barclay and another) v Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and others (No 2) – WLR Daily

Posted July 23rd, 2013 in human rights, judicial review, law reports, remuneration, Sark, trials by tracey

Regina (Barclay and another) v Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and others (No 2)

“Where remedy could be sought in the courts of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and of the Island of Sark, there was great force in the argument that judicial review of advice given by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice to the Committee for the Affairs of Sark as to the compliance of legislative proposals for Sark with the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms should take place in those courts rather than in the High Court in London but where, as in the present case, the review was a further stage in a sequence of review which had entailed an earlier concession permitting review in the High Court, it would be wrong for the High Court to decline jurisdiction.”

WLR Daily, 9th May 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

DPP to meet judge following prosecution ‘farce’ in murder trial – Law Society’s Gazette

“Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions (DPP), is to meet Richard Griffith-Jones, the judge who made a scathing attack on the Crown Prosecution Service after a murder trial descended into farce last month.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 19th July 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New DPP guidance on concurrent jurisdiction published – Crown Prosecution Service

“The CPS has today published the final guidelines for Crown Prosecutors handling cases where more than one country or jurisdiction is investigating criminal conduct.”

Full guidelines

Crown Prosecution Service, 17th July 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Bar’s disciplinary system on trial in High Court – Law Society’s Gazette

“The legality of the bar’s disciplinary system has been called into question this week as the High Court hears three claims for judicial review. The cases have been brought by three barristers in relation to charges of professional misconduct brought by the Bar Standards’ Board.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 18th July 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk