New approach to expert evidence in family proceedings – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted February 1st, 2013 in evidence, expert witnesses, family courts, press releases by sally

“New rules come into force today which will mean judges can streamline proceedings in family courts by reducing the number of expert witnesses who have to give evidence.”

Full press release

Judiciary of England and Wales, 31st January 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Information ‘reasonably accessible’ despite hefty charge – Panopticon

Posted February 1st, 2013 in fees, freedom of information, news, statistics by sally

“In Davis v ICO and Health and Social Care Information Centre (case no. EA/2012/0175, judgment 24 January 2013) the First-Tier Tribunal applied the absolute exemption under section 21 of FOIA 2000 for information which is reasonably accessible to an applicant other than under section 1. The requested information consisted of health statistics which the public authority was willing to provide to the appellant under its publication scheme for a charge of £1,550. The appellant argued that the charge meant the information could not be considered to be reasonably accessible to a person of ordinary means.”

Full story

Panopticon, 31st January 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Immigration route for entrepreneurs tightened to “stamp out abuse” – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 1st, 2013 in immigration, news, regulations by sally

“Changes to the immigration rules for foreign entrepreneurs coming to the UK will
‘stamp out abuse by those looking to play the system,’ a Government minister has
said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 31st January 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

An assault on family law – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted February 1st, 2013 in appeals, families, financial provision, news, privilege by sally

“As Ryder J contemplates reform of the family justice system, he may wish to be aware of the assault by the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court upon some of the more cherished assumptions of family lawyers. Family lawyers should perhaps look to the legitimacy of some of their long-held shibboleths before another Court of Appeal assault. To ignore the law, as the cases below show, can be repressive and is certainly illegal.”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 31st January 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Man gave wife overdose to have ‘peace and quiet’ – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2013 in carers, drug offences, married persons, medicines, news, sentencing by sally

“A man who acted as full-time carer to his wife for the five years of their marriage has been jailed for administering an overdose of prescription drugs to her to give himself a day of respite.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police get new powers to withdraw licences from short-sighted drivers – Daily Telegraph

“Short-sighted motorists involved in accidents or caught driving dangerously will
have their licences revoked within hours to prevent their posing a risk to other
road users.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lobbyists’ code of conduct bill to be debated for first time in parliament – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2013 in bills, lobbying, news, parliament, professional conduct by sally

“Lobbyists working in Westminster or local government would have to sign a public register and agree to a code of conduct under a bill being debated for the first time in parliament on Friday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Construction workers to challenge Met over blacklist – The Guardian

“Decision by the Metropolitan police not to investigate claims that officers supplied information to the blacklist faces appeal by workers’ lawyers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st February 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Assisted suicide: GMC signals doctors safe to provide medical records to Dignitas patients – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 1st, 2013 in assisted suicide, doctors, medical records, news, professional conduct by sally

“Doctors will be able to provide medical records to patients who want them to
travel abroad for an assisted suicide without being struck off, new guidelines
make clear for the first time.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st February 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Barry Reeve murder: Women tortured pensioner to death – BBC News

Posted February 1st, 2013 in murder, news, sentencing by sally

“Two women who tortured a retired bus conductor and left him to die have been found guilty of his murder.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Banks to pay for ‘swap’ mis-selling, FSA demands – BBC News

Posted February 1st, 2013 in banking, compensation, financial advice, financial regulation, news by sally

“Four banks will now compensate tens of thousands of small businesses who were mis-sold complex insurance deals, says the Financial Services Authority.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

DPP publishes new Code for Crown Prosecutors following public consultation – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted January 31st, 2013 in codes of practice, consultations, Crown Prosecution Service, news by sally

“The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, QC, has today published a new edition of the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the overarching document that guides prosecutors and police in deciding whether or not to charge a suspect.”

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 28th January 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Sperm donors who know parents can apply to see children, court rules – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2013 in assisted reproduction, children, contact orders, news, parental rights by sally

“Sperm donors who know the parents to whom they have donated can apply for contact with their biological children, a court has ruled. Previously this was not allowed. The ruling has major implications for anyone who has a child conceived using the sperm of someone they know and for those considering starting a family this way.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hot 100: James Dingemans QC, 3 Hare Court – The Lawyer

Posted January 31st, 2013 in barristers, diversity, inns of court, news, pupillage by sally

“Inner Temple became a trailblazer on diversity issues at the bar when in March 2012 it launched the Pegasus Access Scheme.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 28th January 2013

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Man convicted of supplying gun to Mark Duggan – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2013 in firearms, news, retrials, witnesses by sally

“A man has been convicted of supplying a gun to Mark Duggan, whose shooting by police triggered the 2011 riots across England.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Reducing delays in family courts – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 31st, 2013 in delay, evidence, expert witnesses, family courts, news by sally

“New measures have been introduced to ensure child care cases are dealt with more quickly and effectively in family courts. This is so children and families are spared unnecessary delays and the cost to taxpayers is reduced.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 31st January 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Call centre justice – LegalVoice

Posted January 31st, 2013 in law centres, legal services, news, telecommunications by sally

“The Ministry of Justice is not that interested in research-based policy at the moment, writes Roger Smith. Better in the current environment to stick to prejudice; the elevation of austerity as the sole goal; and stagger through to tomorrow. Hence, no one, least of all Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling, is interested in what anyone has actually ever found out about telephone legal advice hotlines. We are two months away from LASPO Day when face to face advice begins to disappear from the High Street, at least for poor people, just as surely as Woolies and Comet. There is no time left for reflection, let alone reconsideration.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 31st January 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Bali drugs: UK government accused of breaching Lindsay Sandiford’s rights – The Guardian

“The government’s failure to provide an ‘adequate’ lawyer to represent a British woman sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug smuggling is a breach of her rights, the high court has been told.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

TV death baby: Kian McMillan’s mother jailed – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2013 in child cruelty, child neglect, drug abuse, homicide, news, sentencing by sally

“The mother of a four-month-old boy who died when a television fell on his head has been jailed.”

Full story

BBC News, 31st January 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prisoners’ rights: no tea bags please! – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 31st, 2013 in judicial review, news, prisons by sally

“Was challenging the decision for prisoners having the right to vote a step too far?”

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 31st January 2013

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk