Lords defeat for ministers over disability benefit cuts – BBC News
‘The government has been defeated in the Lords over plans to cut the benefits of people with illness and disabilities.’
BBC News, 27th January 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
New guidelines say armed thieves should get longest sentences – The Guardian
‘Thieves armed with guns or knives should get the longest jail terms under new sentencing guidelines for robberies designed to help courts sentence all types of offenders, from a street mugger to a gang guilty of a bank hold-up.’
The Guardian, 28th January 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Paroled murderer wins fight to remain anonymous – The Guardian
‘A convicted murderer, recently released from a psychiatric hospital, has won his supreme court battle to keep his identity secret.’
The Guardian, 27th January 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Wearing the veil in schools: the debate continues – Education Law Blog
‘Last week the Prime Minister entered into the debate on the wearing of veils by Muslim women in schools. This week, it is the turn of the Chief Inspector of Schools, Sir Michael Wilshire. The Chief Inspector has said that:
“The Prime Minister and Secretary of State are right to give their backing to schools and other institutions which insist on removing face coverings when it makes sense to do so.’
Education Law Blog, 27th January 2016
Source: www.education11kbw.com
EVENT: LSE – Not Yet Over the Rainbow: contemporary barriers to LGBT+ equality in the legal profession
‘Drawing on a mix of personal experience and professional insight, speakers from the City, the bar and the bench will discuss contemporary barriers to the advancement of LGBT+ people in the legal profession and how those barriers may be overcome.’
Date: 2nd February 2016, 6.30-8.00pm
Location: Hong Kong Theatre, London School of Economics and Political Science, Clement House, London WC2A 2AE
Charge: Free
More information can be found here.
Webcam sex abuse ‘established reality’ in the UK – BBC News
‘Paedophile Trevor Monk paid for the live streaming of child abuse from the Philippines and then travelled there to carry out the abuse himself. His case represents a growing problem of British men ordering abuse over the internet.’
BBC News, 26th January 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Appeal court rules bedroom tax discriminatory in two cases – The Guardian
‘A victim of domestic violence and the grandparents of a severely disabled teenager have won court of appeal challenges over the lawfulness of the bedroom tax.’
The Guardian, 27th January 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
EVENT: LSE – A Question of Law and Wealth
‘The law plays a crucial part in the creation, proliferation, and distribution of wealth. Through private law institutions such as contract and property, but also through the criminal law (consider the numerous offences pertaining to wealth, such theft, fraud, money laundering) the law creates and regulates the categories making possible the exclusive relations between us and the world. In doing so the law also, at least indirectly, shapes social relations.
Questions of wealth creation and distribution have become particularly urgent since the beginning of the ongoing financial crisis. This also puts to the question the way in which law regulates wealth. Are corporations and financial markets sufficiently regulated? Is it even possible to regulate them by law? What protection does the law offer to the worse-off and especially those who financially depend on creditors? What role can the criminal law play in hindering aggressive corporate conduct especially in conditions of globalisation?’
Date: 2nd March 2016, 6.30-8.00pm
Location: Hong Kong Theatre, London School of Economics and Political Science, Clement House, London WC2A 2AE
Charge: Free
More information can be found here.
There are sound reasons to oppose a ‘love tax’ – once again the Lords is our best protection – The Independent
‘The background to stories of conflict between the two Houses of Parliament has changed during our lifetime. A generation ago, unelected members of the Upper House were notorious for streaming into London from their country seats to vote in vast numbers in favour of reactionary measures like the notorious poll tax, from which they stood to gain handsomely.’
The Independent, 26th January 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Philippines abuse: Paedophile Trevor Monk jailed – BBC News
‘A paedophile who filmed himself abusing young girls in the Philippines has been jailed for 19-and-a-half years.’
BBC News, 26th January 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
MoJ and MoD join forces to protect soldiers from “parasitic litigation” – Litigation Futures
‘Justice minister Dominic Raab and armed forces minister Penny Mordaunt are to chair a working party looking at how to prevent “any malicious or parasitic litigation from being taken against our brave armed forces”, Mr Raab revealed yesterday.’
Litigation Futures, 27th January 2016
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Something to Declare – Nearly Legal
‘The power for a local authority to make an HMO declaration under s255, Housing Act 2004 is not commonly used. This power arises where a property appears to be an HMO in all respects save that it is not being used solely as an HMO. In that case the property will not fulfil the tests for an HMO under s254 of the Act but can be declared to be an HMO by the local authority of they reasonably believe that the property has “significant use” as an HMO. The declaration as an HMO can be appealed to the FTT (and from there to the UT) and that appeal operated by way of a re-hearing of that decision.’
Nearly Legal, 27th January 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Can schools ban the veil? – BBC News
‘No-one knows how many adult women in the UK wear the full face covering known as the niqab.’
BBC News, 26th January 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Top UK judges denounce ‘dangerous’ increase in court fees – The Guardian
‘Court fee increases that were hastily introduced to plug a £100m hole in the Ministry of Justice’s budget were based on “hopeless” evidence, according to the most senior civil judge in England and Wales.’
The Guardian, 26th January 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
UK Government tells High Court: Same-sex couples may be shut out of Article 14 – UK Human Rights Blog
‘On 19-20 January, the England and Wales High Court (Mrs. Justice Andrews) heard the judicial review of the ban on different-sex civil partnerships brought by Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan. It was argued on behalf of the supposedly LGBTI-friendly UK Government (represented by Nicky Morgan, the Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities) that the High Court should follow two anti-LGBTI decisions from 2006.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 22nd Janaury 2016
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
High Court: Wrong to assume it is “more improbable” that professionals will be dishonest – Legal Futures
‘It would be wrong to assume that it is “inherently more improbable” that a professional person will be dishonest than anyone else, the High Court has said.’
Legal Futures, 26th January 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Motorcylist jailed after filming himself speeding over 150mph – The Independent
‘A motorcyclist has been jailed after filming himself speeding over 150mph.’
The Independent, 25th January 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Full inquest to be held for murdered teacher Ann Maguire – BBC News
‘A coroner is to hold a full inquest into the death of a Leeds school teacher murdered in her own classroom.’
BBC News, 25th January 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Rulings rejecting taxi and chocolate bar shapes as trade marks reflect intentions of trade mark law, says expert – OUT-LAW.com
‘The strict circumstances in which shapes can benefit from trade mark protection have been reinforced by two new rulings issued by the High Court in London, an expert has said.’
OUT-LAW.com, 22nd January 2016
Source: www.out-law.com
