Libel trials should be heard by judges without juries, says law lord – The Times
“Libel trials should be heard by judges sitting without juries, Lord Justice Jackson recommends.”
The Times, 15th January 2010
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Youths who killed fawn ‘for a laugh’ fined £1,000 – The Independent
“Campaigners today condemned a £1,000 fine and community punishment order given to two youths who stamped a fawn to death ‘for a laugh’.”
The Independent, 14th January 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Jack Straw: review of civil litigation costs – Ministry of Justice
“Justice Secretary Jack Straw has thanked Sir Rupert Jackson for his comprehensive report on costs in civil litigation.”
Ministry of Justice, 14th January 2010
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Apology for thalidomide survivors – BBC News
“The government will apologise later to the victims of the thalidomide scandal after agreeing a £20m support package.”
BBC News, 14th January 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
DNA profiles removed at rate of only one a day – The Independent
“Innocent people’s DNA profiles are being removed from the national database at a rate of barely one a day, figures showed today.”
The Independent, 14th January 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI
The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010
The Overhead Lines (Exempt Installations) Order 2010
The Health Act 2009 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2010
The Overhead Lines (Exempt Installations) (Consequential Provisions) Order 2010
The Data Protection (Monetary Penalties) (Maximum Penalty and Notices) Regulations 2010
The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (Commencement No.1) (Wales) Order 2009
The Education (Information About Children in Alternative Provision) (Wales) Regulations 2009
Source: www.opsi.gov.uk
Legal adviser duped couples into thinking they were divorced – Daily Telegraph
“A legal adviser tricked two estranged couples into believing they had been divorced in order to pocket their fees.”
Daily Telegraph, 13th January 2010
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Law Society files judicial review application over defendants’ costs cap – Law Society’s Gazette
“The Law Society has filed a judicial review application in a move to overturn new government regulations restricting the costs that can be recovered by acquitted defendants.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 14th January 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Iraq war inquiry told attorney general changed mind over legality of invasion – The Guardian
“The attorney general materially changed his advice on the legality of military action against Iraq a few days before the invasion, the inquiry into the war was told today.”
The Guardian, 13th January 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Men cleared of rape after online chat on group sex revealed – Daily Telegraph
“A rape case against five men collapsed after a court heard that the female victim had spoken online about taking part in group sex.”
Daily Telegraph, 13th January 2010
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Jackson report published today – Law Society’s Gazette
“Claimant personal injury lawyers and after-the-event (ATE) insurers were nervously awaiting the publication of the Jackson report as the Gazette went to press.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 14th January 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
E-commerce Regulations updated to exempt ISPs from hate speech charges – OUT-LAW.com
“The Government has published Regulations that will absolve internet service providers (ISPs) and other digital service providers of responsibility for religion or sexuality-related hate speech transmitted over their networks.”
OUT-LAW.com, 14th January 2010
Source: www.out-law.com
Fears for election as law fails to curb ballot fraud – The Times
“Ministers are under mounting pressure to combat voting fraud at this year’s general election after evidence of continuing abuse emerged.”
The Times, 14th January 2010
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
The Big Question: Do juryless trials risk obscuring the transparency of justice? – The Independent
“Why are we asking this now?
This week Britain’s first crown court criminal trial to take place without a jury in more than 400 years started at the Royal Courts of Justice. The case, involving four men accused of a £1.75m armed robbery, is being heard by a judge, sitting alone, who will decide upon the men’s guilt or otherwise.”
The Independent, 14th January 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Prison population ‘should be cut’ by third, say MPs – BBC News
“The number of inmates in England and Wales’ jails should be cut by a third, and the money saved put into community penalties, a report by MPs has said.”
BBC News, 14th January 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Sky begins push for TV cameras in court – The Times
“A campaign to allow cameras into courts to film proceedings was announced by Sky News last night.”
The Times, 13th January 2010
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Judge says extraditing Gary McKinnon may be unlawful – The Guardian
“The home secretary may have acted unlawfully by pursuing the extradition of the computer hacker Gary McKinnon, a high court judge said yesterday.”
The Guardian, 14th January 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Marco Pierre White case shows how family lawyers can get into a stew – The Times
“All’s fair in love — and divorce. Or is it? It may surprise those unfamiliar with acrimonious divorce battles that courts condone a degree of DIY detective work.”
The Times, 12th January 2010
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Kate Middleton launches legal action against photographer – The Guardian
“Kate Middleton is pursuing legal action against a photographer who took pictures of her on Christmas Day, a month after the Queen warned the media over publication of paparazzi photographs of the royals.”
The Guardian, 13th January 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ministers offer concessions on copyright changes – BBC News
“Ministers have given a concession over what critics claimed were ‘draconian’ powers which would enable them to crack down on online copyright infringement.”
BBC News, 13th January 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
