Plea to ministers on squatting law – The Independent
“The Government has been urged not to criminalise squatting after a report found it would lead to an increase in some of the most vulnerable homeless people sleeping rough.”
The Independent, 4th October 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Fixed legal fees- can they change the face of the legal profession? – The Lawyer
“The system of hourly billing by lawyers has come under scrutiny for some time, and whilst this might not be a new phenomenon, the increased move towards fixed fees and what this might mean for the sector, certainly is.”
The Lawyer, 4th October 2011
Source: www.thelawyer.com
New reporting restriction rules in effect for criminal cases – OUT-LAW.com
“Courts must allow the media an opportunity to challenge any discretionary reporting restrictions they place on a criminal hearing following changes to court rules for England and Wales.”
OUT-LAW.com, 5th October 2011
Source: www.out-law.com
Man jailed for JCB wrecking spree in Nottinghamshire – BBC News
“A man who left a trail of destruction when he drove a stolen JCB through a Nottinghamshire village has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.”
BBC News, 3rd October 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Calls for scrap metal controls after memorial plaques stolen – The Independent
“There are renewed calls for a change in the laws controlling the sale of scrap metal after thieves desecrated a First World War memorial.”
The Independent, 4th October 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Rapists escaping justice because police surgeons not up to the job, say critics – The Guardian
“Rape already arouses serious anxiety because so few attacks are reported to the police, conviction rates are low, and victims are subject to intrusive questioning in court. But now concerns are growing that rapists are escaping justice because doctors are failing to properly examine victims or record their injuries, depriving police of crucial forensic evidence. In other words, senior doctors fear that some forensic medical examiners (FMEs) are simply not up to the job.”
The Guardian, 3rd October 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Joanna Yeates murder trial begins with warning to potential jurors – The Guardian
“Potential jurors in the trial of Vincent Tabak, the man accused of murdering Joanna Yeates, have been warned not to do any background research on the case.”
The Guardian, 4th October 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
#WithoutPrejudice 12: Riots, sentencing appeals – Troy Davis execution – Legal Aid cutbacks and Clause 12 – Charon QC
“Criminal Law Special: Sentencing in the wake of the riots and the forthcoming appeals, Contempt of Court, Troy Davis execution, Legal Aid and Clause 12 re-visited.”
Charon QC, 30th September 2011
Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com
“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.
Ken Clarke: Prisoners must work in jail – The Independent
“Prisoners should carry out work while in jail as part of the process of tackling the growing ‘feral underclass’, Justice Secretary Ken Clarke said today.”
The Independent, 4th October 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Torture couple Anna Wibrew and Simon Weller jailed – BBC News
“A couple have been jailed for their part in the torture of a man who stabbed himself in the chest to try to kill himself after being kept prisoner.”
BBC News, 4th October 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Catgate: another myth used to trash human rights – The Guardian
“The home secretary is wrong,the decision not to deport an illegal immigrant had nothing to do with the pet cat.”
The Guardian, 4th October 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Related link: Theresa May’s twisted tale of a Bolivian’s cat
Hacking investigation may start in November – The Independent
“Oral evidence in the first part of the inquiry into media ethics and phone hacking could start next month, Lord Leveson said today.”
The Independent, 4th October 2011
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Angel of Death’ Colin Norris could be cleared of insulin murders – The Guardian
“Fresh medical evidence in the case of the nurse called the ‘Angel of Death’ and jailed for life for the murders of four patients in a Leeds hospital eight years ago is to be passed to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The case has similarities to that of Rebecca Leighton, the nurse arrested on suspicion of murdering patients in a Stockport hospital and released without charge last month.”
The Guardian, 4th October 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Premier League rights judgement is a win-win for football’s ruling classes – The Guardian
“Landmark European court decision will keep lawyers busy but it won’t make much difference to consumers.”
The Guardian, 4th October 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Damages cap introduced for Patents County Court rulings on copyright and trade mark disputes – OUT-LAW.com
“The Patents County Court (PCC) will be able to order damages payments of up to £500,000 for infringement of copyright and trade mark rights under a new law that came into effect on Saturday.”
OUT-LAW.com, 3rd October 2011
Source: www.out-law.com
Supreme Court ‘missed opportunity’ to clarify equal pay law, expert says – OUT-LAW.com
“The Supreme Court ‘missed the opportunity’ to clarify a complex area of employment law when Sheffield City Council settled out of court an equal pay test case by female workers who claimed they were being paid less than men to do similar jobs, an expert has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 3rd October 2011
Source: www.out-law.com
BAILII: Recent Decisions
High Court (Administrative Court)
AM v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] EWHC 2486 (Admin) (03 October 2011)
High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
Rossetti Marketing Ltd v Diamond Sofa Company Ltd & Anor [2011] EWHC 2482 (QB) (03 October 2011)
Source: www.bailii.org
Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk
David Starkey cleared over ‘racist’ Newsnight remarks – Daily Telegraph
“David Starkey, the historian, has been cleared by the broadcasting watchdog over comments he made on newsnight that led to complaints he had been racist.”
Daily Telegraph, 3rd October 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
