Can Britain “ignore Europe on human rights”? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 24th, 2011 in constitutional law, human rights, judiciary, news by sally

“Headlines are important. They catch the eye and can be the only reason a person decides to read an article or, in the case of a front page headline, buy a newspaper. On Thursday The Times’ front page headline was ‘Britain can ignore Europe on human rights: top judge’.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd October 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Christopher Chapman murder: Girls jailed for life – BBC News

Posted October 24th, 2011 in murder, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“Two teenage girls have been jailed for life for the murder of a man during a drunken row in Northumberland.”

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BBC News, 21st October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Director of public prosecutions backs right to challenge bail orders – The Guardian

Posted October 24th, 2011 in appeals, bail, Crown Prosecution Service, news by sally

“The director of public prosecutions has said he would welcome a right to appeal against crown court judges’ decisions to grant bail. Keir Starmer last week met the parents of nurse Jane Clough, who was stabbed to death by her ex-partner, to discuss their campaign to amend bail laws.”

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The Guardian, 23rd October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Needless’ compensation payouts to be cut – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 24th, 2011 in accidents, compensation, health & safety, industrial injuries, news by sally

“Compensation payments for workplace accidents could be cut under a government drive to reduce the cost of red tape to businesses.”

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gun smuggling gang leaders jailed for 24 years – The Guardian

Posted October 24th, 2011 in conspiracy, firearms, news, sentencing by sally

“Two ringleaders of a gang which smuggled guns into the UK from the United States have each been jailed for 24 years. Mohammed Tariq, 33, and Atique Arif, 32, were sentenced at Bradford crown court along with six other men who were sent to prison for up to 12 years. The gang imported guns concealed with electrical equipment including DVD players and portable radios. Police said they smuggled 13 firearms into the UK over a 12-month period. West Yorkshire police said the investigation – Operation Lapworth – began in July last year when two parcels destined for addresses in the Bradford area were intercepted at East Midlands airport. Detectives said the conspiracy began when Tariq ordered a Taser gun from an American website.”

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The Guardian, 21st October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unions launch pensions legal challenge – The Independent

Posted October 24th, 2011 in indexation, news, pensions, trade unions by sally

“Public-sector unions will today open up a new front in their battle with the Government over pension reform with a legal challenge to recently introduced rules over the way annual increases are calculated.”

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The Independent, 24th October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal aid cuts will put domestic abuse victims at risk, law groups warn – The Guardian

Posted October 24th, 2011 in child abuse, cross-examination, domestic violence, legal aid, news, victims by sally

“An increasing number of victims of domestic abuse, including children, will be cross-examined in court by their alleged assailants if the government goes ahead with plans to cut legal aid, a coalition of family and children’s charities has warned.”

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The Guardian, 24th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Whatever happened to the Digital Economy Act? – BBC News

Posted October 21st, 2011 in copyright, electronic commerce, internet, legislation, news by sally

“The UK’s Digital Economy Act (DEA) was meant to make pirates quake in their boots, but so far it has failed to shiver any timbers.”

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BBC News, 21st October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man jailed for 1990s rapes – The Independent

Posted October 21st, 2011 in DNA, news, rape, sentencing by sally

“A double rapist caught nearly 20 years after his first rape was jailed for 16 years today.”

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The Independent, 21st October 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Solicitors from Hell owner’s defamation bid was ‘abuse of court process’ – The Lawyer

Posted October 21st, 2011 in complaints, defamation, internet, Law Society, news by sally

“Mr Justice Tugendhat has dismissed a £1m defamation claim launched against Law Society chief executive Des Hudson by Solicitors from Hell owner Rick Kordowksi, branding the bid ‘an abuse of the court process’.”

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The Lawyer, 21st October 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Men jailed for mistaken identity murder in Catford – BBC News

Posted October 21st, 2011 in drug offences, mistaken identity, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“Two killers who shot a man in a ‘roadside execution’ in front of his wife in south London have been jailed.”

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BBC News, 21st October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Yorkshire judge under fire for banning ‘love’ in courtroom – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 21st, 2011 in courts, judges, news, sex discrimination by sally

“A newly appointed Yorkshire judge has been criticised by the region’s language campaigners after banning defendants from referring to female court staff as ‘love’.”

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Daily Telegraph, 21st October 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

End of ‘year and a day rule’ led to Clift murder charge – BBC News

Posted October 21st, 2011 in double jeopardy, grievous bodily harm, murder, news, sentencing by sally

“Screwdriver killer Leigh Clift was brought back to court and convicted of murder following a change in a the law allowing him to be charged with a different offence over the same attack on Milton Keynes man Jonathan Barton.”

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BBC News, 21st October 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Former ILEX student successfully quashes cheating claims – The Lawyer

Posted October 21st, 2011 in appeals, disciplinary procedures, legal education, news by sally

“The Court of Appeal has reversed the decision of an Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) disciplinary hearing, ruling that the body’s disciplinary process was not independent enough to serve its purpose.”

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The Lawyer, 20th October 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

More secret justice on the horizon – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 21st, 2011 in courts, disclosure, evidence, intelligence services, news by sally

“The Cabinet Office has released its long awaited Justice and Security Green Paper, addressing the difficult question of to what extent the state must reveal secret information in court proceedings. A consultation has been launched on the proposals; responses can be sent via email by Friday 6 January 2012.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 19th October 2011

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Allegedly defamatory comments from named authors should stay online, say MPs – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 21st, 2011 in anonymity, bills, complaints, defamation, internet, judges, news by sally

“Web hosts and ISPs should be allowed to keep allegedly defamatory comments online as long as the author of the comment is identified and a notice of complaint is published alongside the comment, a Parliamentary committee has recommended.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th October 2011

Source: www.out-law.com

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