‘The High Court has refused five claimants permission to bring a challenge to the Metropolitan Police’s policy requiring practicing Freemasons to declare membership of that organisation to their superiors. None of the grounds, including a challenge based on ECHR rights, had a realistic prospect of success. The judgment did not, however, consider the affected claimants’ rights under Article 9 ECHR, which may be a significant omission. The case is R (United Grand Lodge of England) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2026] EWHC 330 (Admin) (17 February 2026).’

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Administrative Court Blog, 23rd February 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘Last week saw publication of an important judgment from the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, in a case called Re Y (Experts and Alienating Behaviour: The Modern Approach) [2026] EWFC 38.’

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The Transparency Project, 23rd February 2026

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

‘Preventing the owners of law firms from being compliance officers could lead to “additional regulatory expenses” which will be passed onto clients, the Law Society has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 24th February 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘The High Court has refused an anti-abortion protester permission for a judicial review challenge after the Crown Court dismissed his appeal over his conviction for breaching a safe zone around a clinic.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th February 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Last week, the Court of Appeal dismissed the Home Secretary’s appeal against the decision of the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) to allow the appeal of Kamran Safi against his deportation to Afghanistan on Articles 2 and 3 ECHR grounds. The result turned on the fact that the Home Secretary had not contested expert evidence adduced by Mr Safi in the FTT, underlining the importance of evidence in human rights cases. The case is Safi v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWCA Civ 149.’

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Administrative Court Blog, 23rd February 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘The Upper Tribunal has warned lawyers against putting client documents into ChatGPT and other open-source AI tools after a solicitor admitted doing so.’

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Legal Futures, 24th February 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Individuals who “hold themselves out to be psychologists” but who are not registered or chartered should not be instructed to provide assessments in proceedings relating to children, the president of the Family Division has said in a ruling following a “parental alienation” case.’

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Law Society Gazette, 23rd February 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘First purchased by HMCTS in 2022 for £111m and scheduled to go live the following year, the UK’s largest dedicated tribunal centre is set to open at last. The Newgate Street development next door to the Central Criminal Court in London, which houses 30 hearing rooms, will host its first employment tribunal (ET) case in March.’

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Law Society Gazette, 24th February 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘A police chief has admitted artificial intelligence used to boost crime fighting will contain bias but pledged to combat the risks.’

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The Guardian, 24th February 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘A cap on court sitting days is to be lifted as the government seeks to ease the cases backlog, David Lammy has announced.’

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The Guardian, 24th February 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Occasionally, we receive enquiries from adults who want to be ‘un-adopted’ – although the formal order was validly made when they were children – because of their own experiences of being an adopted person. However, being adopted changes your status so profoundly, normally this can’t be reversed. This problem is currently being considered by the Supreme Court.’

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The Transparency Project, 20th February 2026

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

‘The High Court was wrong to rule that it did not have jurisdiction to grant claimants a protective injunction stopping a defendant from harassing their lawyers, the Court of Appeal has decided.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd February 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Consultation opens on draft guidance to reduce short notice applications in the family courts.’

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Family Law, 23rd February 2026

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

‘The long-running debate over mandatory reporting of child abuse in England has entered a new legislative phase, with provisions in the Crime and Policing Bill progressing through Parliament amid continued professional and political scrutiny.’

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Family Law, 23rd February 2026

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

‘The Divisional Court in R (Ammori) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 292 (Admin)(Dame Victoria Sharp P and Swift and Steyn JJ) has held that the proscription of Palestine Action should be quashed on the basis that the Home Secretary had failed to follow relevant policy guidance and had not struck a fair balance in respect of relevant rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Home Secretary has indicated that she intends to appeal.

This ‘extended look’ article will examine the grounds on which the claim succeeded and evaluate the Home Secretary’s potential prospects on appeal.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd February 2026

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

‘The long-awaited Representation of the People Bill was laid before the House of Commons on 12 February 2026. This followed the Government’s earlier policy paper, “Restoring Trust in our Democracy”, published in July 2025, which outlined the Government’s bold aim to “usher in a new chapter in our democracy, reflecting our principles, and restoring faith in our politics”.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 23rd February 2026

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

‘Planning reform in England this year is expected to accelerate, with updates from both the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Planning and Infrastructure Act set to take effect.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th February 2026

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

‘This was a s.204 appeal of Haringey’s decision on review that Mr Zikic was not homeless because it was reasonable to remain in his then accommodation, a private assured shorthold tenancy of a one bed flat. The flat, notably, could only be accessed by a flight of 15 steps. Mr Z is disabled.’

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Nearly Legal, 22nd February 2026

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

‘The Court of Appeal has rejected a challenge brought by the British Medical Association against the General Medical Council’s decision to describe physician associates and anaesthesia associates as “medical professionals” in official guidance. In considering the claim, the Court has provided clarity as to the appropriate legal test to be applied when challenging guidance which might not squarely qualify as a “policy” in the established sense. The case is R (British Medical Association) v General Medical Council [2026] EWCA Civ 143 (20 February 2026).’

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Administrative Court Blog, 20th February 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com

‘On 13 February 2026, Mr Justice Swift in the High Court dismissed a challenge to guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (“EHRC”). This interim guidance   sought to assist service providers interpreting duties under the Equality Act 2010 (“EA 2010”) in the wake of the judgment in For Women Scotland Limited v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16.’

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Administrative Court Blog, 20th February 2026

Source: administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com