Missing April Jones: Mark Bridger trial due to start – BBC News

Posted February 25th, 2013 in kidnapping, murder, news, perverting the course of justice, trials by sally

“The man accused of the abduction and murder of missing five-year-old April Jones is due to stand trial.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Trafficker jailed for using Polish workers as slaves – The Independent

Posted February 25th, 2013 in forced labour, news, sentencing, trafficking in human beings by sally

“A ‘physical and mental bully’ has been jailed for six years and three months for trafficking four men to the UK and exploiting them to work as slaves.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Should jurors have to take a literacy test? – The Guardian

Posted February 25th, 2013 in education, evidence, judiciary, juries, media, news by sally

“The judge in the Vicky Pryce trial last week dismissed the jury for ‘fundamental deficits in understanding’. Should jurors have to sit a test?”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

When Can Judges Change Their Minds? The Supreme Court’s judgment in L and B (Children) – Family Law Week

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in appeals, child abuse, judgments, judiciary, jurisdiction, news, Supreme Court by sally

“Martha Gray, Pupil at 1 Garden Court, considers whether and in what circumstances a judge who has announced her decision is entitled to change her mind, particularly in the context of fact-finding hearings in care proceedings, in the light of the Supreme Court’s recent judgment.”

Full story

Family Law Week, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Sub-£2m cases “will be subject to costs management” amid criticism of big-case exemption – Litigation Futures

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in costs, judiciary, news, personal injuries by sally

“Cases before the Chancery Division, Technology and Construction Court (TCC), and Mercantile Courts that are worth less than £2m will be subject to costs management, it was confirmed yesterday.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Figures show divorce hot spots – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in dispute resolution, divorce, news, statistics by sally

Separating couples are being urged to use mediation instead of ending up in courtroom battles after a list of England and Wales divorce hot spots was revealed.

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 20th February 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

High Court challenge over 17-year-olds’ custody rights – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in custody, detention, judicial review, news, police, United Nations, young offenders by sally

“The High Court will hear a legal challenge to the practice of treating 17-year-olds detained in police custody as adults, in a judicial review being brought by Just For Kids Law next week.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Upper Tribunal issues further decision in Prince Charles’ letters saga – Panopticon

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in disclosure, judicial review, news, parliament, public interest, royal family, veto by sally

“In the latest round of the legal and political boxing match that the Evans case has become, the Upper Tribunal (‘UT’), chaired by Walker J, has decided that the government should release its ‘schedules and lists’ of ‘advocacy correspondence’ between Prince Charles and various government departments.”

Full story

Panopticon, 21st February 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

New centres and £4 million to help rape victims – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in news, rape, sexual offences, victims by sally

“Victims of rape and sexual assault will have improved access to expert advice, support and counselling following the go-ahead for four new rape support centres. This takes the total number of centres to 78 across England and Wales.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Bill forcing papers to seek pre-publication approval is ‘flawed’ – The Guardian

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in bills, damages, defamation, dispute resolution, freedom of expression, media, news, privacy by sally

“Proposals for a new law which would require newspaper editors to seek regulatory approval for certain types of stories are flawed and should be abandoned, a number of peers have said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

ICO to publish code of practice for the press on personal data processing – OUT-LAW.com

“The UK’s data protection watchdog has outlined its intention to set new guidelines for journalists on the processing of personal data for the purposes of journalism.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 21st February 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Neuberger warns against risk of profits before principles in the ABS world – Legal Futures

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in alternative business structures, judges, legal aid, legal services, news by sally

“The president of the Supreme Court has urged the legal profession not to lose sight of its fundamental principles in the rush for modernisation, warning about the risks of pressure from “hard-nosed businessmen” who may invest in law firms.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lord McAlpine drops defamation claims against Twitter users with fewer than 500 followers – The Independent

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in charities, damages, defamation, internet, news by sally

“Lord McAlpine has announced that he is dropping defamation claims against Twitter users with fewer than 500 followers who wrongly named him as a paedophile, instead asking for a charitable donation.”

Full story

The Independent, 21st February 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

After Leveson: the 66-year press regulation journey that ends as it began – The Guardian

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in freedom of expression, inquiries, interception, media, news, privacy, telecommunications by sally

“In this extract from After Leveson, a book edited by John Mair, John Jewell, of the Cardiff school of journalism, takes us on the long journey that led publishers, editors, journalists and phone hacking victims to the royal courts of justice for the Leveson inquiry. His story begins 66 years ago…”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Probation service gets ‘generally good’ report as it faces wholesale outsourcing – The Guardian

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in consultations, contracting out, news, ombudsmen, probation, recidivists, statistics by sally

“The probation service, which faces wholesale outsourcing under government plans, is ‘doing much good work’ with adult offenders but some aspects continue to require improvement, according to the chief inspector of probation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hacking: No charges for ex-NoW deputy editor – BBC News

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in evidence, inquiries, interception, media, news, prosecutions, telecommunications by sally

“The former deputy editor at the now-defunct News of the World newspaper will not face any charges regarding phone hacking, the CPS has announced.”

Full story

BBC News, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

One in three serious offenders has 15 or more convictions or cautions – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in burglary, news, recidivists, rehabilitation, statistics, victims, violent offenders by sally

“One in three serious offenders last year had at least 15 previous convictions or cautions, up from one in five a decade ago.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 21st February 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Madeleine McCann contempt case: retired solicitor found guilty – The Guardian

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in contempt of court, costs, defamation, injunctions, news, sentencing, suspended sentences by sally

“A retired solicitor who published claims that Madeleine McCann’s parents caused her death has been given a suspended jail sentence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Whistleblowers to be protected from harassment from co-workers – The Guardian

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in bills, employment tribunals, harassment, news, vicarious liability, whistleblowers by sally

“Whistleblowers are to be protected from harassment and bullying from co-workers after criticism that current legislation fails to protect those who speak out.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Divorcing couples often hide assets, survey suggests – BBC News

Posted February 22nd, 2013 in disclosure, dispute resolution, divorce, news, penalties by sally

“Many people going through divorce could be hiding their wealth from their partners, a survey suggests.”

Full story

BBC News, 22nd February 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk