Lord Rennard’s suspension from Lib Dems is lifted – Daily Telegraph
‘Disciplinary action launched in wake of sexual harassment allegations against the peer is dropped by the party.’
Daily Telegraph, 19th August 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Cliff Richard case: BBC and police face parliamentary inquiry into coverage – The Guardian
‘The BBC director general, Tony Hall, and South Yorkshire police are facing a parliamentary inquiry over the leaking of highly sensitive information about the investigation of Sir Cliff Richard as an independent inquiry into the affair was announced.’
The Guardian, 19th August 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Julian Assange: do recent changes to extradition law make any difference? – Head of Legal
‘In a word – no. In a press conference this morning, Julian Assange told reporters a WikiLeaks spokesman could confirm that “I am leaving the embassy soon” and the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, according to the Guardian “referred to recent changes to the extradition laws in the UK which he believed would mean Mr Assange would not be facing extradition if the case started today.” Notice he did not claim these changes make any actual difference now; merely that they would have made a difference had the case started today. It started (and ended) some time ago, so they make no difference at all.’
Head of Legal, 18th August 2014
Source: www.headoflegal.com
UK taxpayer faces £220m bill over e-borders contract termination – The Guardian
‘The taxpayer has been left to foot a £220m bill after a tribunal ruled that a government contract awarded to a US defence firm to deliver the e-borders programme was unlawfully terminated.’
The Guardian, 19th August 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Men guilty of attempt to kill Luton accountant Atif Ali – BBC News
‘Two men have been jailed for life over a plot to murder an accountant.’
BBC News, 18th August 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Rule committee backs part 36 reforms – Litigation Futures
‘The Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) is to consider how part 36 can be reformed – to simplify it, allow offers by counterclaiming defendants and discourage “cynical” claimant offers.’
Litigation Futures, 19th August 2014
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Cooke and another v MGN Ltd and another – WLR Daily
Cooke and another v MGN Ltd and another: [2014] EWHC 2831 (QB); [2014] WLR (D) 379
‘By not defining the term “serious harm” in section 1(1) of the Defamation Act 2013, Parliament had left it to the courts to decide whether the serious harm test had been satisfied on the individual facts of contested claims. In cases where the statements complained of were so obviously likely to cause serious harm to a person’s reputation, that likelihood could be inferred from the words used without the need for further evidence.’
WLR Daily, 13th August 2014
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
The Ritz Hotel Casino Ltd v Al Daher [2014] EWHC 2847 (QB) (15 August 2014)
Source: www.bailii.org
Youth advocacy review established – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The Bar Standards Board and ILEX Professional Standards have issued a call for research organisations to help carry out an independent review of advocacy in the youth court.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 18th August 2014
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Ofcom to investigate Monty Python shows over lack of swearing – Daily Telegraph
‘The communications watchdog Ofcom is to investigate the Monty Python reunion shows after fans complained about a lack of swearing.
Dozens of viewers objected to “cuts” and “censorship” after some bad language was cut out of the programme, broadcast before the watershed on Gold on July 20. However others complained that the show was too rude after the censors missed some of the more controversial jokes.’
Daily Telegraph, 18th August 2014
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Police officers investigated for social media breaches – BBC News
‘Hundreds of police officers have been investigated for breaching social media guidelines, research has revealed.
Freedom of Information requests by the Press Association found officers made racist comments online and asked crime victims to become Facebook friends.’
BBC News, 19th August 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Prison ‘crisis’ denied by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling – BBC News
‘Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has admitted to the BBC that prisons in England and Wales face problems with violence, suicides and staff shortages.’
BBC News, 19th August 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
EVENT: Judiciary of England & Wales – Judges of Tomorrow, they look like you!
‘To celebrate the approach to the 50th Anniversary of the Race Relations Act the judiciary are hosting a networking event to promote greater diversity in the judiciary.’
Date: Wednesday 19 November 2014, 5pm-8pm
The School of Law, Leeds
More information can be found here.
Mothers’ names to be added to UK marriage registers in equality move – The Guardian
‘The names of couples’ mothers are to be added to marriage registers for the first time as the government addresses “another inequality in marriage” by introducing the first reforms to the system in more than 150 years, David Cameron has announced.’
The Guardian, 18th August 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Sky faces inquiry over MH17 report – The Guardian
‘Sky News is to be investigated by the media regulator for broadcasting images of one of its presenters handling a passenger’s belongings at the Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash site.’
The Guardian, 18th August 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Guidance for the instruction of experts in civil claims 2014 – Civil Justice Council
‘Civil Justice Council issues new guidance on instructing experts in civil claims.’
Civil Justice Council, 13th August 2014
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
City firms face massive disclosure challenge after privilege ruling – Litigation Futures
‘Three City firms – Clyde & Co, Stephenson Harwood and Addleshaw Goddard – face a combined disclosure exercise which could last for months and cost £2.5m after a High Court ruling on legal professional privilege.’
Litigation Futures, 18th August 2014
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
Judicial Speeches, Gaza Boycotts and Social Media Crimes – the Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog
‘This week, former leaders of the Khmer Rouge face life imprisonment for crimes against humanity committed in Cambodia. In other news, the on-going conflict in Gaza sparks controversy at home, while the Lords inquiry into social media offences reaches an unexpected conclusion.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 18th August 2014
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
