Independence Under Threat – Speech by Dame Heather Hallett DBE
Independence Under Threat (PDF)
Speech by Dame Heather Hallett DBE
Bentham Association Presidential Address, 21st March 2012
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Sports law: rules of the game – Law Society’s Gazette
“The complex web of commercial and regulatory issues that surrounds sport is occupying an ever-increasing amount of lawyers’ time. That was evident at the Law Society’s Sports Law Conference, held at Chancery Lane last week. It may be true that, as Charles Russell partner Simon Johnson told the conference, ‘a sports right as such does not exist’. But that has not stopped the rights and laws that affect sport from developing into a unique combination of problems whose resolution requires a growing cast of legal minds.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd March 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Bar Council Calls for Action in Wake of MP Report on MoJ Finances – The Bar Council
“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has welcomed the findings of a report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) into the financial management of the Ministry of Justice, which raises serious concerns about a number of areas of saving and expenditure.”
The Bar Council, 20th March 2012
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Killer Kevin Nunn in High Court forensic evidence challenge – BBC News
“A convicted killer has started a new High Court challenge to access forensic evidence that his lawyers claim could clear his name.”
BBC News, 21st March 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Justice reforms move to next stage – Ministry of Justice
“Plans for radical reforms to the justice system have moved another step forward in the Houses of Parliament.”
Ministry of Justice, 21st March 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Family Law Week’s Budget Briefing 2012 – Family Law Week
“Steve Crompton & David Kitson, Tax Directors at RSM Tenon, review the Chancellor’s 2012 Budget announcements.”
Family Law Week, 21st March 2012
Source: www.familylawweek.com
Government to consult further on introducing a general tax avoidance prohibition in 2013 – OUT-LAW.com
“The Government has accepted that the introduction of a general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR) will improve the UK’s tax avoidance strategy whilst maintaining competitiveness, and will consult further with business on introducing a GAAR into the UK tax system, the Chancellor confirmed in today’s Budget.”
OUT-LAW.com, 21st March 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
Outrage at £2.60 wage proposal for trainees – Law Society’s Gazette
“Trainee solicitors could be paid as little as £2.60 an hour in their first year under an amendment to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s proposals for ending the minimum wage. The Law Society’s Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) today condemned the move as another step towards making the legal profession the ‘preserve of the rich’.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 21st March 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Appeasement it may be, but exclusion of Iranian dissident not a matter for the courts – UK Human Rights Blog
“The High Court has upheld an order by the Home Secretary preventing Maryam Rajavi, a prominent Iranian dissident, from speaking in Parliament. The exclusion order was imposed because of concerns about the deterioration of bilateral relationships between this country and the Iranian government, and fears that if the exclusion order was lifted there could be reprisals that put British nationals at risk and make further consular cooperation even more problematic. For further details of the Home Secretary’s decision see Henry Oliver’s excellent discussion of the case ‘Free Speech and Iranian Dissent in Parliament’.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 21st March 2012
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Judges will not have to give life terms to repeat dangerous criminals because of human rights laws – Daily Telegraph
“Judges will not have to impose new ‘two strikes and you’re out’ mandatory life jail terms on all dangerous repeat criminals because of human rights laws, the Government has admitted.”
Daily Telegraph, 22nd March 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Richard O’Dwyer case: Lawyers lodge extradition appeal – BBC News
“The family of a Sheffield student who faces extradition to the United States has confirmed an appeal has been lodged by lawyers.”
BBC News, 22nd March 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
No referral exemption for charities, Lords rule – Law Society’s Gazette
“The House of Lords has blocked attempts to exempt charities and trade unions from the referral fee ban. The house was debating proposed amendments to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders bill.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 21st March 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Phillips v Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and others – WLR Daily
“Where a corporation had been removed from the register of charities but had not been struck off and dissolved until after the death of the testatrix, a gift made in her will took effect notwithstanding that the corporation had ceased to exist.”
WLR Daily, 16th March 2012
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
G v de Visser – WLR Daily
G v de Visser (Case C-292/10); [2012] WLR (D) 87
“Where it was impossible to locate the whereabouts of a defendant, European Union law did not preclude the issue of judgment by default in circumstances where the document instituting proceedings had been served by public notice under national law, provided that the court seised of the matter had first satisfied itself that all investigations required by the principles of diligence and good faith had been undertaken to trace the defendant.”
WLR Daily, 15th March 2012
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Barr and others v Biffa Waste Services Ltd – WLR Daily
Barr and others v Biffa Waste Services Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 312; [2012] WLR (D) 86
“Conventional principles of the law of nuisance were to be applied to a claim based on nuisance by smell from a waste tip operated pursuant to a waste management permit. The fact that the alleged interference did not breach the permit nor amounted to negligence did not mean that the user had to be deemed ‘reasonable’.”
WLR Daily, 19th March 2012
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
David Anderson QC backs closed hearings in some national security cases – The Guardian
“The independent reviewer of terrorism legislation has said there is a ‘small but indeterminate category of national security-related claims’ in which a closed hearing would be preferable to existing court procedures.”
The Guardian, 21st March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Lawyers condemn budget’s £20m legal funding gesture – Law Society’s Gazette
“Chancellor George Osborne today promised £20m a year in new funding for the not-for-profit advice sector over the next two years. The sum was immediately and widely condemned as being not enough to replace shortfalls left by spending cuts.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 21st March 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Budget 2012 – HM Treasury
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, today announced his Budget which maintains the Government’s strategy to reduce the deficit, announces far-reaching tax reforms, and support for growth and to reward work. It sets out the actions the Government will take in three areas – creating a stable economy, a fairer, more efficient and simpler tax system, and further reforms to support growth.
Press notice (PDF)
HM Treasury, 21st March 2012
Source: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
Related link: Budget 2012
Women’s criminal justice policy proposal fails – Law Society’s Gazette
“A proposal to establish a women’s criminal justice policy unit within the Ministry of Justice foundered yesterday after a vote on an amendment to the Legal Aid Sentencing and Criminal Justice Bill was tied.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 21st March 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Court of Appeal ruling allows Taylor Wimpey development to proceed – OUT-LAW.com
“Developer Taylor Wimpey can proceed with its 138 home development in Chippenham following a Court of Appeal ruling which confirmed that a lane, which is crucial to the development, is a public vehicular highway, and not a bridleway limited to walkers and riders.”
OUT-LAW.com, 21st March 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
