Current Awareness

“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.”

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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

Posted January 14th, 2010 in attorney general, Iraq, news, war by sally

“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.”

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The Guardian, 13th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Men cleared of rape after online chat on group sex revealed – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 14th, 2010 in conspiracy, internet, news, rape by sally

“A rape case against five men collapsed after a court heard that the female victim had spoken online about taking part in group sex.”

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Daily Telegraph, 13th January 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jackson report published today – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 14th, 2010 in costs, fees, news, personal injuries, reports by sally

“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.”

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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

Posted January 14th, 2010 in electronic commerce, homosexuality, immunity, inciting religious hatred, internet, news by sally

“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.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th January 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Fears for election as law fails to curb ballot fraud – The Times

Posted January 14th, 2010 in news by sally

“Ministers are under mounting pressure to combat voting fraud at this year’s general election after evidence of continuing abuse emerged.”

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The Times, 14th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

The Big Question: Do juryless trials risk obscuring the transparency of justice? – The Independent

Posted January 14th, 2010 in criminal justice, judges, news, trial without jury by sally

“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.”

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The Independent, 14th January 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prison population ‘should be cut’ by third, say MPs – BBC News

Posted January 14th, 2010 in community service, news, prisons by sally

“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.”

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BBC News, 14th January 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sky begins push for TV cameras in court – The Times

Posted January 14th, 2010 in news by sally

“A campaign to allow cameras into courts to film proceedings was announced by Sky News last night.”

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The Times, 13th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Judge says extraditing Gary McKinnon may be unlawful – The Guardian

Posted January 14th, 2010 in computer crime, extradition, mental health, news by sally

“The home secretary may have acted unlawfully by pursuing the extradition of the computer hacker Gary McKinnon, a high court judge said yesterday.”

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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

Posted January 13th, 2010 in news by sally

“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.”

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The Times, 12th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Kate Middleton launches legal action against photographer – The Guardian

Posted January 13th, 2010 in harassment, news, photography, privacy, royal family by sally

“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.”

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The Guardian, 13th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ministers offer concessions on copyright changes – BBC News

Posted January 13th, 2010 in bills, copyright, internet, news by sally

“Ministers have given a concession over what critics claimed were ‘draconian’ powers which would enable them to crack down on online copyright infringement.”

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BBC News, 13th January 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

£150k payout for ‘bullied’ manager at Llanelli hospital – BBC News

Posted January 13th, 2010 in bullying, compensation, employment, harassment, news by sally

“A hospital information manager has been awarded £150,000 compensation after claims that she was bullied at work.”

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BBC News, 12th January 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Conservatives refuse to pay a £215,000 bill after rigged poll – The Times

Posted January 13th, 2010 in news by sally

“The Conservative Party is refusing to pay a £215,000 bill after one of its local election candidates rigged a poll using hundreds of fictitious voters to oust Europe’s first black woman mayor. The party went to the High Court yesterday to challenge an attempt to make it pay the costs of a scandal that pressured the Government into introducing tough new reforms to make it harder to steal elections.”

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The Times, 13th January 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk