Category: news

Legal aid: the right to a fair trial – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted October 21st, 2011 in bills, human rights, legal aid, news, trials by sally

“Under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), Art 6 ‘Right to a fair trial’, ‘equality of arms’ is implicitly granted in respect of both criminal charges and civil rights and obligations. By ensuring the entitlement of a ‘fair and public hearing’, it is presumed that legal aid funding will be afforded to those individuals who would suffer injustice otherwise.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 19th October 2011

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Courts should ditch ‘absurd’ paper-based systems, say Neuberger and Vos – The Lawyer

Posted October 21st, 2011 in courts, electronic filing, electronic mail, news by sally

“Britain’s leading judges are calling for an electronic revolution in the courts, arguing that enhanced use of technology would solidify London’s High Court as one of the best in the world.”

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The Lawyer, 20th October 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

More cuts: Library closure challenge fails – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 21st, 2011 in appeals, budgets, children, injunctions, judicial review, libraries, local government, news by sally

“The duty to provide library services for children was one of the key arguments advanced by campaigners in Brent challenging the council’s decision to close 6 of its 12 libraries. Reliance was placed upon section 7 of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. This requires local authorities to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 20th October 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Victims’ Views of Court and Sentencing – Victims’ Commissioner

Posted October 21st, 2011 in courts, criminal justice, news, sentencing, victims by sally

“Victims’ Commissioner publishes findings from research with victims of crime about their experiences of court and sentencing.”

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Victims’ Commissioner, 20th October 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Judge scrutinises ill man’s removal from foster home – The Independent

Posted October 21st, 2011 in care homes, disabled persons, fostering, local government, news by sally

“A High Court judge has ordered a local authority to provide details about its decision to remove a man with severe medical difficulties from his former foster parents.”

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The Independent, 21st October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rapist Gerald Greenwood cannot be buried with wife, church rules – BBC News

Posted October 21st, 2011 in burials and cremation, child abuse, Church of England, news by sally

“A Lancashire man jailed for child sex offences cannot be buried alongside his wife, church authorities have ruled.”

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BBC News, 20th October 2011

Source: www.bc.co.uk

 

Oliver Letwin cleared of security breach after dumping documents in park bin – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2011 in data protection, ministers' powers and duties, news, privacy, terrorism by sally

“The Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin has been cleared of allegations that he could have committed a security breach after being photographed dumping work-related documents in bins in a park close to Downing Street.”

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The Guardian, 20th Ocober 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers condemn police spies who ‘deceive’ justice system – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2011 in courts, demonstrations, evidence, investigatory powers, news, perjury, police by sally

“Lawyers have condemned what appears to be deception of the courts by undercover police and have called for fundamental reforms of the legislation governing covert operations.”

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The Guardian, 20th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sandbanks tree damage developers guilty – BBC News

Posted October 21st, 2011 in criminal damage, news, planning, trees by sally

“Two developers have been found guilty of damaging trees which were blocking plans for three luxury homes worth £11m in Dorset.”

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BBC News, 20th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

IPCC watchdog to probe undercover police officer case – BBC News

Posted October 21st, 2011 in courts, demonstrations, evidence, investigatory powers, news, perjury, police by sally

“Scotland Yard has called in the police watchdog over claims an undercover officer underwent a criminal trial using his operational alias.”

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BBC News, 20th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Watchdog warns of difficulty over challenging state decisions – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2011 in complaints, news, ombudsmen, tribunals by sally

“The government is making it more difficult for the public to challenge decisions made by the state, the official watchdog for complaints has warned.”

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The Guardian, 21st October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leveson considers taking anonymous evidence from tabloid journalists – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2011 in anonymity, evidence, inquiries, media, news, privacy by sally

“Journalists will be able to anonymously submit evidence under oath as part of proposals set to be introduced by Lord Justice Leveson’s inquiry into phone hacking and press ethics.”

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The Guardian, 21st October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sound judgments – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 21st, 2011 in freedom of expression, human rights, judges, media, news, sentencing, violent disorder by sally

“Recent pronouncements by Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice, have been momentous, particularly his statements about the Human Rights Act.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ministers bar hereditary peerages from passing to women – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 21st, 2011 in news, peerages & dignities, royal family, sex discrimination, succession by sally

“Ministers have ruled out a change in the law that would have allowed hereditary peerages to pass to women.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jack Sutton to pay back £54,000 over rugby injury – BBC News

Posted October 20th, 2011 in appeals, costs, damages, duty of care, news, personal injuries, sport by sally

“A Nottingham student who was given £54,000 damages after he injured his knee during training at a rugby club has been ordered to pay the money back.”

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BBC News, 20th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

 

Justice selections can only be made on merit, says Lord Phillips – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2011 in judicial appointments commission, judiciary, lord chancellor, news by sally

“Judicial selection panels are ‘bending over backwards’ to appoint women and members of ethnic minorities to the bench but selections must ultimately be on merit, Lord Phillips, president of the supreme court, said on Tuesday.”

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The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Press regulation should be ‘all inclusive’, says Lord Judge – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2011 in complaints, media, news by sally

“Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice, said that Richard Desmond and other newspaper owners should not be allowed to duck out of regulation by a reformed Press Complaints Commission (PCC).”

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The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Leigh Clift jailed for life for screwdriver murder – BBC News

Posted October 20th, 2011 in grievous bodily harm, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“A man convicted of murder when his victim died nine years after he was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver has been jailed for at least six years.”

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BBC News, 20th October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

FSA told to rethink on legal privilege – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 20th, 2011 in financial regulation, judicial review, news, privilege by sally

“The Financial Services Authority has been urged to review its operating procedures after it was found to have acted unlawfully in its use of legally privileged material during an enforcement investigation.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 20th October 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Deeds not ‘delivered’ despite signatures, rules High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 20th, 2011 in documents, guarantees, news, warranties by sally

“Guarantees and warranties given by the directors of a company did not take effect despite the signing, witnessing and handing over of documents, the High Court has ruled. The documents in question were deeds and the Court said that they had not been ‘delivered.’ ”

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th October 2011

Source: www.out-law.com