Facebook reunion murder: David Hoyle killed Rebecca Bamber – BBC News
‘A man has been convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend after rekindling their relationship on Facebook.’
BBC News, 10th December 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
MoJ commissions new report into accessibility of legal services – LegalVoice
‘Following the recent publication of a report on litigants in person in private family law (reported here), the Lord Chancellor has commissioned a review of accessibility and affordability of legal services.’
LegalVoice, 10th December 2014
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
Police to lose complaints powers – The Guardian
‘Police forces are to be stripped of the power to manage public complaints made against their own officers, the home secretary will announce on Thursday.
The Guardian, 11th December 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Judicial reviews: a decision that’s best left to judges – The Guardian
‘The justice secretary wants to restrict access to judicial reviews, but judging the lawfulness of executive action should not be a matter for the executive.’
The Guardian, 10th December 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Skelmersdale man jailed for murdering Polish neighbour – BBC News
‘A man who hacked to death his Polish neighbour in a “savage and ferocious” machete attack in Lancashire has been jailed for life.’
BBC News, 10th December 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Mass polygamy in UK Muslim community – claim – Daily Telegraph
‘Peer warns widespread polygamy being ‘condoned’ as report claims many Muslim women trapped in legal limbo.’
Daily Telegraph, 10th December 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
EVENT: The Law Society – Legal Aid Annual Conference 2015
‘The Law Society’s fourth legal aid conference will provide up to date information and relevant business advice to help support practitioners operating in difficult times. This essential event, presented by subject matter experts, will include two plenary sessions and practical breakout sessions covering:
• Digital working in crime and civil
• Financial health check for your firm
• Managing your legal aid contract
• Maximising your criminal fee
• Benefits of in house advocacy
• Operating under LASPO’
CPD Hours 5
Date: 19th March 2015, 9.00am-5.00pm
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL
Charge: See website for details
More information can be found here.
House of Lords rejects government plans to restrict judicial review access – The Guardian
‘A rebellion in the House of Lords has inflicted a second defeat on the government’s plans to restrict access to judicial review challenges.’
The Guardian, 9th December 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Reforming electoral law across the UK – Law Commission
‘In a consultation opening today [9 December] the Law Commissions of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set out provisional proposals for reforming the law that governs the conduct of elections and referendums across the UK.’
Full story
Law Commission, 9th December 2014
Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk
Couple launch challenge to heterosexual ban on Civil Partnerships – UK Human Rights Blog
‘The future of civil partnerships is again in the news. In October, Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan tried to register a Civil Partnership at Chelsea Town Hall but were rebuffed on the grounds that the Civil Partnership Act 2004 reserves that status strictly for same sex couples. Their lawyer, Louise Whitfield of Deighton Pierce Glynn Solicitors has announced their intention to seek a judicial review and the couple have also started a petition.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 9th December 2014
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Merseyside dangerous dog raids: Police acted ‘unlawfully’ – BBC News
‘A police crackdown that saw 22 dangerous dogs rounded up and destroyed across Merseyside was “unlawful”, a court has ruled.’
BBC News, 9th December 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Peers continue JR resistance as Grayling admits misinforming MPs about changes – Litigation Futures
‘The House of Lords yesterday reinstated two of the three amendments it previously passed on the government’s judicial review reforms as it emerged that Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling had given MPs incorrect information over a key aspect of them last week.’
Litigation Futures, 10th December 2014
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
EVENT: UCL – Common Law and Statute in the Law of Employment
‘How should judges develop the common law where Parliament has ‘occupied the field’ through statutory regulation? This is an important enquiry, particularly given the modern prominence of legislation as a form of law-making in the sphere of labour law. In Johnson v Unisys, Lord Hoffmann controversially invoked constitutional principle to halt the development of the common law of wrongful dismissal in the face of a statutory right not to be unfairly dismissed.’
Date: 12th March 2015, 6.00-7.00pm
Location: UCL Laws, Bentham House, WC1H 0EG
Charge: Free, registration required
More information can be found here.
Statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions on Eleanor de Freitas – CPS News Brief
‘Eleanor de Freitas’ tragic death was just days before she was due to stand trial for perverting the course of justice. The pending inquest will deal with the circumstances surrounding her death and I do not want to interfere with that process. However the case has understandably raised questions about private prosecutions in these types of cases and why the CPS took over and continued this particular case.’
CPS News Brief, 9th December 2014
Source: http://blog.cps.gov.uk
‘Very dangerous’ paedophile released over ‘unlawful’ sentence – Daily Telegraph
‘Jeffrey Charles Goodwyn, who has previous for raping a nine-year-old, is released on appeal from sentence for sexually assaulting girl, 7.’
Daily Telegraph, 9th December 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
EVENT: The Law Society – The role of the Charter of Fundamental Rights within the EU legal framework and its relevance for the UK legal order
‘Respect for fundamental rights is one of the basic principles on which the European Union is based. This joint-lecture will first examine the Charter’s key features, its role within the human rights protection regime of the EU and the remedies available at EU level for violations of human rights.’
CPD hours 2
Date: 26th March 2015, 6.00-8.00pm
Location: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL
Charge: Free
More information can be found here.
Men who groom vulnerable young girls will be dealt with ‘severely’, judge says – The Guardian
‘The most senior judge in England and Wales today said men who prey on vulnerable young girls for sex will be dealt with “severely”, as he dismissed appeals from four paedophile groomers.’
The Guardian, 9th December 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Sun journalist Nick Parker cleared of misconduct – BBC News
‘A Sun reporter has been cleared of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office, but convicted of handling an MP’s stolen mobile phone.’
BBC News, 9th December 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
