No deportation for Abu Qatada, but where are we now on torture evidence? – Professor Adam Tomkins – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 19th, 2012 in deportation, evidence, human rights, news, torture by sally

“On 17 January 2012 the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) handed down its judgment in Othman (Abu Qatada) v UK. In a unanimous ruling the Court held that the UK could not lawfully deport Abu Qatada to his native Jordan, overturning the House of Lords (who had unanimously come to the opposite conclusion in RB (Algeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2009] UKHL 10, [2010] 2 AC 110).”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 19th January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Man jailed for sharing father’s industrial compensation – BBC News

Posted January 19th, 2012 in benefits, compensation, news, proceeds of crime by sally

“John Kennedy followed his father’s wishes when he died, sharing the money from a compensation payout with the rest of the family, but he ended up in prison as a result.”

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BBC News, 19th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar applications up 18% – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 19th, 2012 in barristers, legal education, news by sally

“Applications for the Bar Professional Training Course have risen despite the continued fall in the number of pupillages, the bar’s annual report to the profession reveals.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th January 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Metropolitan Police wins appeal over 2009 G20 ‘kettling’ tactics – BBC News

Posted January 19th, 2012 in appeals, demonstrations, London, news, police, restraint by sally

“The Metropolitan Police has won its appeal against a High Court ruling over ‘kettling’ tactics used during the G20 demonstrations in April 2009.”

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BBC News, 19th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted January 19th, 2012 in parliamentary papers by sally

Government response to the Justice Committee’s Report: The proposed abolition of the Youth Justice Board, Cm 8257 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted January 19th, 2012 in legislation by sally

The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) Regulations 2012

The Education Act 2011 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2012

The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2012

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Judge slams quality of mental health advocacy – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 19th, 2012 in advocacy, legal representation, mental health, news, tribunals by sally

“A judge has fiercely criticised the quality of advocacy in mental health review tribunals (MHRT) as calls intensify across the profession for the compulsory accreditation of practitioners appearing for mentally ill clients.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th January 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Regina v Clinton; Regina v Parker; Regina v Evans – WLR Daily

Posted January 19th, 2012 in appeals, defences, evidence, law reports, provocation by sally

Regina v Clinton; Regina v Parker; Regina v Evans [2011] EWCA Crim 2; [2012] WLR (D) 2

“For the purposes of the partial defence to murder of loss of self-control, where such loss of self-control was triggered by sexual infidelity that could not, on its own, qualify as a trigger for the purposes of the defence. Nevertheless, where an admissible trigger might be present, the evidence relating to sexual infidelity might arise for consideration as part of the context in which to evaluate that trigger and whether the statutory ingredients required of the qualifying trigger might be established.”

WLR Daily, 17th January 2012

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Bar Council and Bar Standards Board Publish ‘Bar Barometer’ Report on the Profession – The Bar Council

Posted January 19th, 2012 in barristers, news, reports, statistics by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, and the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the regulator of barristers in England and Wales, have today published the first full edition of Bar Barometer, an annual report on statistical trends within the Bar.”

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The Bar Council, 18th January 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Litigants in person could find access to justice hard – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 19th, 2012 in litigants in person, news by sally

“The prospect of a huge increase in litigants fighting their cases themselves in the face of legal aid cutbacks has prompted dire warnings from judges, magistrates, practitioners and support groups about the impact this will have on access to justice. They also fear that HM Courts and Tribunals Service’s plans to cut counter services will create chaos, particularly in the family courts, with litigants in person (LiPs) left struggling for information. While more online services may help fill the gap, support groups warn that many vulnerable LiPs do not have access to computers or know where to turn for advice.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th January 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Localism Act clarifies rules on predetermination – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 19th, 2012 in bias, legislation, local government, news, planning by sally

“The fact that a member of a local planning authority’s planning committee has campaigned against a proposed development within the authority’s administrative area will not be taken as proof that they are not open minded, according to the clarified rules on predetermination in the Localism Act.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th January 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Border agency was a law unto itself, MPs conclude – The Independent

Posted January 19th, 2012 in immigration, inquiries, news by sally

“Passport checks have been relaxed too often in recent years because of ‘highly troubling’ mistakes by executives at the UK Border Agency, MPs warned.”

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The Independent, 19th January 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Senior judge attacks UK border system after Lithuanian sex offender was able to enter the country – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2012 in dangerous offenders, deportation, immigration, news, sexual offences by sally

“A senior judge has railed at the UK border system asking ‘do we let anyone in?’ after a dangerous Lithuanian sex offender was able to enter the country and then rape a woman.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Tie-break’ system could bring more diversity among judges – Ken Clarke – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2012 in diversity, judiciary, news by sally

“Progress in appointing women and members of ethnic minorities as judges has been far too slow and a ‘tie-break’ procedure favouring such candidates should be adopted, the justice secretary has told the House of Lords.”

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The Guardian, 19th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Phone hacking cases to be settled – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2012 in interception, media, news, telecommunications by sally

“Several phone hacking victims suing News International are expected to have their claims settled today in a series of payouts which could cost the company millions of pounds.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bark but no bite: Dangerous Dogs Act in spotlight as attacks rise – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2012 in dogs, legislation, news by sally

“Ministers urged to tackle irresponsible owners through compulsory microchipping and the return of the dog licence.”

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The Guardian, 18th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

NHS trusts ordered to remove ‘no win, no fee’ adverts – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2012 in advertising, hospitals, news, personal injuries, solicitors by sally

“Hospitals are being instructed to remove advertisements for personal injury lawyers featured in NHS leaflets issued to patients, it has emerged.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Too lenient’ paedophile sentences to be reviewed – BBC News

Posted January 19th, 2012 in appeals, attorney general, news, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

“Three people jailed for their part in a paedophile ring could have their sentences reviewed because they may have been ‘unduly lenient’.”

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BBC News, 18th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Everything’s free in America (copyrighted material not included) – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 19th, 2012 in copyright, extradition, human rights, news by sally

“It seems appropriate, on the day when Wikipedia shut down for 24 hours to protest against US anti-piracy legislation, to talk about piracy (in the copyright sense) and what role human rights law has to play in the perpetual battle against it.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 18th January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Chancery Lane warns against move to limit jury trial – Law Sociey’s Gazette

Posted January 18th, 2012 in budgets, Crown Court, juries, jurisdiction, news, trials by sally

“The Law Society president has defended the right to jury trial following reports that the government is considering removing some offences from the jurisdiction of the Crown court.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 18th January 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk