Prison numbers reach record high – BBC News
“Prisoner numbers in England and Wales have hit a record high for the second week in a row, says the Prison Service.”
BBC News, 25th May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: news
Judges boycott MoJ launch party – The Lawyer
“The launch party for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) on Wednesday night (23 May) had a few notable absentees – namely judges.”
The Lawyer, 25th May 2007
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Authorities should analyse risk before sharing data, says privacy chief – OUT-LAW.com
“Local authorities should conduct a risk assessment before sharing personal data with other public bodies. Sharing can be legitimate, but only when the benefits and risks have been weighed up, the Information Commissioner has said.”
OUT-LAW.com, 25th May 2007
Source: www.out-law.com
Sex change doctor guilty of misconduct – The Guardian
“The UK’s best-known expert on transsexualism was today found guilty of serious professional misconduct for rushing five patients into sex-changing treatments, but avoided being struck off.”
The Guardian, 25th May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Law firms get ready for lucrative move into India – The Times
“Britain’s multibillion-pound legal profession is about to profit from a landmark change in India that will allow foreign law firms to set up shop there for the first time.”
The Times, 25th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Court report ban ‘could be eased’ – BBC News
“Research should be carried out into whether juries are prejudiced by media reports of criminal cases, Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has said.”
BBC News, 25th May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Blow to Commercial Court as planned e-filing of documents is put back to 2009 – Law Society’s Gazette
“The electronic filing of documents in England and Wales courts looks likely to be delayed by at least a year, the Gazette can reveal.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 24th May 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
ABS threat to firms provokes Bill defeat – Law Society’s Gazette
“The Legal Services Bill completed its passage through the House of Lords last week, but not before the opposition inflicted one final defeat on the government over concerns about the impact of alternative business structures (ABSs) on high street law firms.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 24th May 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Society slams government over HIPs ‘shambles’ – Law Society’s Gazette
“The Law Society this week accused the government of presiding over ‘a complete shambles’ after it delayed the introduction of home information packs (HIPs) until 1 August and said they will initially only be required for four-bedroom properties or larger.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 24th May 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Competition regulator to probe Sky’s stake in ITV – OUT-LAW.com
“The Competition Commission will investigate BSkyB’s acquisition of a 17.9% stake in ITV. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has referred the purchase to the Commission after reports from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and media regulator Ofcom.”
OUT-LAW.com, 24th May 2007
Source: www.out-law.com
Who can save the Freedom of Information Act? – The Independent
“MPs dealt a massive blow to open government last week by voting themselves an exemption to the right-to-know law. Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, considers the next move.”
The Independent, 25th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Woman gets suicide advice payout – BBC News
“A Citizens Advice Bureau advisor who was sacked after she phoned a suicidal woman’s GP was awarded £18,000 damages.”
BBC News, 24th May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Reid threatens to suspend human rights laws after terror suspects go missing – The Independent
“John Reid faced growing anger as he signalled the Government was ready to declare that Britain faced an “emergency” over terrorism and opt out of human rights legislation.”
The Independent, 25th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Telephone hearings have benefits but there’s a sting in the tail – The Times
“It could be argued that the courts have been somewhat late in embracing information technology. Database and order production systems only came late in the day and the majority of judges, despite being provided with computers, printers and the like, still tend to rely on writing their notes rather than typing them into their laptops. Telephone hearings are also a recent phenomenon.”
The Times, 25th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
MPs have no reason to be exempt from FoI law, watchdog warns – The Independent
“A campaign by MPs to remove themselves from open government laws in order to protect the privacy of their constituents has been seriously undermined by the UK’s information watchdog.”
The Independent, 25th May 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Legal process in dock as judges rule ex-wife is worth record £48m payout – The Times
“An overhaul of the law on how to split a divorcing couple’s assets was urged by senior judges yesterday as they ruled that a woman can keep her £48 million award – the biggest ordered by British courts in legal history.”
The Times, 25th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
‘Devoted’ husband gets life for killing wife – The Guardian
“A husband who killed his wife after she begged him to help her die was jailed for life today.”
The Guardian, 25th May 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ministry may threaten judges’ independence – The Times
“Judges’ independence will come under pressure as they are urged to tailor sentences according to prison spaces under the Ministry of Justice, a former senior Conservative minister said yesterday.”
The Times, 25th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Court upholds £48m divorce award – BBC News
“A millionaire businessman has lost an appeal over a £48m divorce award made to his former wife.”
BBC News, 24th May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Bid to put off info time-wasters – BBC News
“Plans are due to be unveiled to deter ‘pointless and mischievous’ requests under the Freedom of Information Act.”
BBC News, 24th May 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
