Burglary offences guideline comes into effect – Sentencing Council
“Following a three month period of training and implementation the definitive guideline on burglary offences came into effect on 16 January 2012.”
Family reform judge calls for culture change – Law Society’s Gazette
“A ‘strong consensus’ and a ‘commitment to a change in culture’ is needed to improve the efficiency of the family justice system, according to the senior judge charged with reform. In his first published update since being appointed to lead the modernisation of family justice, Mr Justice Ryder sets out a ‘challenging timetable’ to agree proposals on a programme to put in place the recommendations of the Norgrove review by the time his appointment ends at the end of July.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 17th January 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Murderers lose appeal against whole life tariffs – BBC News
“Britain’s most dangerous criminals can be kept behind bars for the rest of their lives, judges at the European Court of Human Rights have ruled.”
BBC News, 17th January 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Female plumber escapes prison for glassing man after sexual harassment – Daily Telegraph
“A female plumber who glassed a man in a nightclub escaped a prison sentence after a judge accepted that years of sexual harassment at work had led her to erupt.”
Daily Telegraph, 16th January 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Tweet you in court – The Lawyer
“Last month, the Lord Chief Justice delivered guidance clearing the way for Tweeting from Court.”
The Lawyer, 16th January 2012
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Journalists who break law to expose scandals may not be prosecuted, says Justice Secretary – Daily Telegraph
“Journalists who use illegal methods for the ‘greater good’ should not necessarily be prosecuted, Kenneth Clarke, the Justice Secretary, said yesterday.”
Daily Telegraph, 17th January 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Press regulation ‘needs state support’ – The Guardian
“‘Statutory underpinning’ may be required to bolster the authority of a revived Press Complaints Commission, the culture secretary has suggested.”
The Guardian, 16th January 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Garden row between millionaire neighbours reaches Appeal Court – Daily Telegraph
“A long and bitter feud between a pair of millionaire Surrey neighbours has taken an expensive turn after their argument over a ‘wiggly path leading to nowhere’ reached the Appeal Court.”
Daily Telegraph, 16th January 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Youth restraint challenge rejected by High Court – UK Human Rights
“Although certain restraining measures had been taken unlawfully against young people in secure training centres for a number of years, the court had no jurisdiction to grant an order that the victims of this activity be identified and advised of their rights.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 16th January 2012
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Telegraph pays composer damages for story on his ‘continuing’ assault trial – The Guardian
“The Daily Telegraph has paid a British composer a five-figure sum after wrongly reporting that his magistrates court trial for assault was continuing.”
The Guardian, 16th January 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Call for change in law to protect prostitutes from violent crime – The Guardian
“A series of gang attacks on brothels in east London has triggered calls for changes to the prostitution laws after victims who reported knifepoint robberies said they ended up being threatened with prosecution.”
The Guardian, 16th January 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Government ‘considers cutting defendant rights to jury trial’ – The Guardian
“Ministers are considering plans to take away defendants’ rights to jury trial, according to the Magistrates’ Association.”
The Guardian, 16th January 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
BAILII: Recent Decisions
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
M, R. v [2011] EWCA Crim 2998 (24 November 2011)
High Court (Commercial Court)
Alliance Bank JSC v Aquanta Corporation & Ors [2011] EWHC 3281 (Comm) (14 December 2011)
High Court (Patents Court)
Omnipharm Ltd v Merial [2011] EWHC 3393 (Pat) (21 December 2011)
Nokia Oyj (Nokia Corporation) v Ipcom GmbH & Co KG [2011] EWHC 3460 (Pat) (21 December 2011)
Source: www.bailii.org
Court case could set forced retirement precedent – Daily Telegraph
“A long-awaited court case this week could make it possible for employers to justify retiring staff at a certain age – threatening the Government’s new rules which make the practice unlawful.”
Daily Telegraph, 15th January 2012
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Man jailed for 20 years in ‘buried alive’ case – The Independent
“A man who attempted to murder his girlfriend by burying her alive in a cardboard box was jailed for 20 years today.”
The Independent, 13th January 2012
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Terrorist suspect BBC interview can be shown, rules High Court – UK Human Rights Blog
“The High Court ruled that the Justice Secretary’s refusal to grant the BBC permission to have and to broadcast a face-to-face interview with terrorism suspect Babar Ahmad was unlawful.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 15th January 2012
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Got a problem? Mediators are waiting for your call – The Independent
“It’s one of the few boom industries of 2012. But what is mediation? Does it work? And could this new breed of adviser be putting lawyers out of business?”
The Independent, 16th January 2012
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Piracy’ student loses US extradition battle over copyright infringement – The Guardian
“A judge ruled on Friday that a 23-year-old student can be extradited to the United States for running a website posting links to pirated TV shows and films, despite significant doubts over whether such sites break any UK laws.”
The Guardian, 13th January 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Insurance industry must take action to stop customers launching spurious legal claims, say MPs – OUT-LAW.com
“The insurance industry must take action to stop customers launching spurious legal claims which are driving up the cost of premiums, a committee group of MPs has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 16th January 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
