Legal aid cuts are a brutal shrinkage of justice – The Guardian

Posted November 16th, 2010 in barristers, civil justice, criminal justice, legal aid, news by sally

“The scope of Kenneth Clarke’s mooted reforms is breathtaking, and the legal aid cuts introduced as part of this process are brutal. A raft of reforms, from criminal justice right the way through to the funding of clinical negligence claims, are now up in the air.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid cuts would remove free advice for thousands of people – The Guardian

Posted November 16th, 2010 in family courts, housing, legal aid, news by sally

“Hundreds of thousands of people with family and housing law problems will no longer have access to free legal advice under government proposals announced today (15 November).”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Magna Carta 800th anniversary celebrations begin – BBC News

Posted November 15th, 2010 in magna carta, news by sally

“Five years of celebrations leading up to the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta have been publicly launched.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th November 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted November 15th, 2010 in legislation by sally

The Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2010

The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Oman) Order 2010

The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Mexico) Order 2010

The International Tax Enforcement (Bahamas) Order 2010

The Consular Fees (Amendment) Order 2010

The International Tax Enforcement (Gibraltar) Order 2010

The International Tax Enforcement (Turks and Caicos Islands) Order 2010

The International Tax Enforcement (Liechtenstein) Order 2010

The International Tax Enforcement (Anguilla) Order 2010

The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2010

The Central Rating List (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2010

The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2010

The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Jersey) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Guernsey) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

The Local Authorities (Armorial Bearings) Order 2010

The Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (No. 5) Order 2010

The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Singapore) Order 2010

The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Austria) Order 2010

The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Switzerland) Order 2010

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted November 15th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Tamiz (Aka Miah) & Ors v R [2010] EWCA Crim 2638 (12 November 2010)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

RH v South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust & Ors [2010] EWCA Civ 1273 (12 November 2010)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

BJM v Nathan Eyre & Ors [2010] EWHC 2856 (QB) (12 November 2010)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Abbassi & Ors, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2010] EWHC 2894 (Admin) (12 November 2010)

High Court (Family Division)

WF v RJ & Anor [2010] EWHC 2909 (Fam) (13 August 2010)

London Borough of Richmond v B & Ors [2010] EWHC 2903 (Fam) (12 November 2010)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Drachs Investment No 3 Ltd v Brightsea UK Ltd [2010] EWHC 2848 (Comm) (11 November 2010)

High Court (Patents Court)

Abbott Laboratories Ltd v Medinol Ltd [2010] EWHC 2865 (Pat) (12 November 2010)

Source: www.bailii.org

Watkins v Woolas – WLR Daily

Watkins v Woolas [2010] EWHC 2702 (QB); [2010] WLR (D) 288

“S 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, which imposed the penalties for an election candidate found guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice, was compatible with the right to freedom of expression contained in art 10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The interference with the right to freedom of expression by s 106 and the penalties imposed for breach of that section were proportionate to the legitimate aim of the section.”

WLR Daily, 12th November 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Lords committee criticises government plans for constitutional reform – The Guardian

Posted November 15th, 2010 in constitutional reform, elections, news, parliament by sally

“A collection of peers has criticised the government’s proposed constitutional changes, concluding that the reforms will strengthen the executive’s grip on parliament.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal help for vulnerable ‘at risk’ – BBC News

Posted November 15th, 2010 in autism, criminal justice, mental health, news, police by sally

“The support people with autism get from the police and criminal justice system could be hit by Home Office cuts, a senior legal figure has warned.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th November 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother who suffocated baby son to remain in psychiatric unit – The Guardian

Posted November 15th, 2010 in infanticide, mental health, news by sally

“A teacher with severe post-natal depression smothered her 10-day-old son after her medication was taken away, it emerged today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Surveillance society soon a reality, report suggests – The Guardian

Posted November 15th, 2010 in investigatory powers, news, privacy by sally

“Information commissioner Christopher Graham is pressing ministers for new privacy safeguards in the wake of a report that suggests moves towards a surveillance society are expanding and intensifying.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Doctor asks Europe to rule on gay adoptions – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 15th, 2010 in adoption, Christianity, homosexuality, news by sally

“A paediatrician who claims she was driven out of her job because of her Christian views will today start a legal battle over what rights doctors have to intervene in homosexual adoptions.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th November 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Pro bono – what does the future hold? – The Guardian

Posted November 15th, 2010 in news, pro bono work by sally

“Lawyers must consider whether their voluntary work should be about securing access to justice for those failed by a shrinking legal aid system.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Peers threaten voting reform bill – BBC News

Posted November 15th, 2010 in elections, news, parliament, referendums by sally

“Government plans for a referendum in May on changing the voting system could be at risk if peers vote later to refer them to a Lords committee.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th November 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chilcot inquiry’s credibility ‘is on edge of an abyss’ – The Guardian

Posted November 15th, 2010 in inquiries, Iraq, news, war by sally

“The credibility of the Chilcot inquiry into the invasion of Iraq is ‘on the edge of an abyss’ because of its lack of transparency, a leading international lawyer warned today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 14th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Two jailed over £3.5m Leicestershire drugs deal – BBC News

Posted November 12th, 2010 in drug offences, news, sentencing by sally

“Two men have been jailed for 13 years and four months each after they admitted possession of heroin with an estimated street value of £3.5m.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th November 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Devon man’s baby murder conviction overturned – BBC News

Posted November 12th, 2010 in murder, news by sally

“A former soldier from Devon jailed for life for murdering his eight-week-old son has had conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal.”

Full story

BBC News, 12th November 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ministers shelve plans for rape defendant anonymity – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 12th, 2010 in anonymity, news, rape by sally

“Ministers have quietly shelved their much-vaunted pledge to grant anonymity to rape defendants after admitting there was no evidence to establish what impact it would have.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th November 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Corporate lawyers – are reports of their demise an exaggeration? – The Guardian

Posted November 12th, 2010 in law firms, news by sally

“The merger of two high-profile firms has fuelled growing speculation that all is not well in the corporate legal world. But is it too soon to write them off?”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Greenpeace makes legal bid to stop UK offshore drilling – The Independent

Posted November 12th, 2010 in environmental protection, judicial review, offshore installations by sally

“Greenpeace has launched legal action in a bid to stop UK offshore drilling in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The environmental group announced today that its lawyers have filed a claim at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th November 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted November 12th, 2010 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

MH v Lancashire County Council [2010] EWCA Civ 1257 (12 November 2010)

BCL Old Co Ltd & v BASF SE & Ors [2010] EWCA Civ 1258 (12 November 2010)

Tiensia v Vision Enterprises Ltd (t/a Universal Estates) [2010] EWCA Civ 1224 (11 November 2010)

Cadogan & Anor v Panagopoulos & Anor [2010] EWCA Civ 1259 (11 November 2010)

Pengeyo & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2010] EWCA Civ 1275 (11 November 2010)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Inglis, R v [2010] EWCA Crim 2637 (12 November 2010)

Joseph v R. [2010] EWCA Crim 2580 (11 November 2010)

High Court (Commercial Court)

WestLB Ag v Nomura Bank International Plc & Anor [2010] EWHC 2863 (Comm) (11 November 2010)

Source: www.bailii.org