Regina v. Osbourne – Times Law Reports

Posted April 24th, 2007 in bad character, law reports by sally

Shouting not relevant to offence

Regina v. Osbourne 

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

“The fact that a defendant shouted at his partner in the context of a charge of murdering his friend was not evidence amounting to reprehensible behaviour within the bad character provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.”

The Times, 24th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Copland v. United Kingdom – Times Law Reports

Posted April 24th, 2007 in human rights, law reports, privacy by sally

Employee’s privacy breached by employer’s monitoring

Copland v. United Kingdom (Application No. 62617/00)

European Court of Human Rights 

“The collection and storage of information by an employer of an employee’s telephone, e-mail and internet usage at the place of work was, in the absence of any legal provisions, unjustified.”

The Times, 24th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

A place on the Bench? It’s time to step forward – The Times

Posted April 24th, 2007 in judiciary by sally

“Diversity in the lower tiers of the judiciary has improved significantly in the past five years. But as a whole the judiciary is struggling to reflect the demographics of society.”

Full story

The Times, 24th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

British lawyer accused over collapse of Yukos – The Times

Posted April 24th, 2007 in money laundering, news, Russia, theft by sally

“A solicitor has become the first British citizen to be targeted by the Russian authorities in connection with the collapse of Yukos, the oil company.”

Full story

The Times, 24th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Cadbury to face court over salmonella in chocolate – The Guardian

Posted April 24th, 2007 in food, health & safety, news by sally

“Confectionery giant Cadbury is to be prosecuted for producing and selling ‘unsafe’ chocolate contaminated with salmonella and unfit for human consumption last year, it was confirmed yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Secrets leak’ civil servant opposed Iraq war – The Times

Posted April 24th, 2007 in Iraq, news, official secrets act by sally

“A civil servant accused of leaking a highly classified document about the Government’s policy on Iraq admitted to Scotland Yard that he opposed the war, the Old Bailey was told yesterday. David Keogh, 50, who was employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office but seconded to a Cabinet Office communications centre beneath the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, has pleaded not guilty to breaching the Official Secrets Act 1989.”

Full story

The Times, 24th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lords reject European competition appeal court – The Times

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in competition, EC law, news by sally

“Calls for the creation of a new EU competition court to hear appeals over European Commission (EC) decisions on the legality of large mergers and acquisitions have been rejected by a House of Lords committee.”

Full story

The Times, 23rd April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

DCA profit provokes lawyers’ outrage – The Lawyer

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in courts, fees, news by sally

“The civil courts made £45.5m in profit last year – almost 15 per cent of its net intake from fees – a Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) consultation paper has revealed.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 23rd April 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Regulation of claims management services commences – Government News Network

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in claims management, news by sally

“From today all claims management companies will be regulated by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Those authorised to provide the regulated services must follow strict rules of conduct. This will ensure that consumers are given clear information about the options available for pursuing their claim. If an authorised person fails to comply with the rules, the Regulator will be able to take disciplinary action.”

Full story 

Department for Constitutional Affairs press release, 23rd April 2007

Source: www.gnn.gov.uk

London & Quadrant Housing Trust v. Ansell – WLR Daily

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in housing, law reports by sally

London & Quadrant Housing Trust v. Ansell

“Where, pursuant to ss 82 and 85 of the Housing Act 1985, a former secure tenant, following a possession order made against her, remained in occupation as a tolerated trespasser but failed to comply with the conditions imposed under the order the proper course was for the landlord to recover possession by issuing fresh proceedings. It was not appropriate to issue a warrant to recover possession under the original order to enable the tenant to claim protection under s 85 (2) of the Housing Act 1985.”

WLR Daily, 19th April 2007

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

What’s next for the Criminal Bar? by Geoffrey Vos Q.C., Chairman of the Bar Council

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in barristers by sally

What’s next for the Criminal Bar? (Word document)

Speech by Geoffrey Vos Q.C. addresses the Criminal Bar Association Conference, 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Law chief refuses to give up crucial say on honours inquiry – The Times

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in news, peerages & dignities by sally

“Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney-General, insisted yesterday that he would not give up his power to have the final say on whether prosecutions are brought in the cash-for-honours inquiry.”

Full story

The Times, 23rd April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Appeal could delay crash inquest – BBC News

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in inquests, legal aid, news by sally

“An inquest into a major rail crash could be delayed after the government decided to appeal against a High Court ruling on legal aid for relatives.” 

Full story

BBC News, 23rd April 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

University agrees to pay £35,000 after losing discrimination case – The Guardian

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in news, race discrimination by sally

“Warwick University has agreed to pay £35,000 in compensation, subject to appeal, to an Irish academic after a unanimous employment tribunal ruling that it discriminated against her on the grounds of her race. The Birmingham tribunal ruled last month that the university failed to select Patricia Walls for a research job because she was Irish and gave the post to a less-qualified candidate instead.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The state has 266 ways to enter your home – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in news, powers of entry by sally

“The state now has 266 powers to draw upon when its agents want to enter homes, according to research.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd April 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Justice ministry won’t work, judges say – The Times

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“Senior judges have told the Lord Chancellor that the new Ministry of Justice will be unworkable without safeguards to protect their independence.”

Full story

The Times, 23rd April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Dead? That’s no reason not to sue for libel – Sunday Times

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in defamation, news by sally

“Speaking ill of the dead could become a lot more expensive. The government is to consider extending the laws of defamation so that even the deceased – or at least their representatives – can sue for libel.”

Full story

Sunday Times, 22nd April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Plea deals plan to beat inside trading – Financial Times

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in insider dealing, news by sally

Plans to introduce US-style plea bargaining for suspected insider dealers are being studied by the City watchdog to bolster its enforcement powers.

Full story

Financial Times, 22nd April 2007

Source: www.ft.com

Lord Bragg attacks Mental Health Bill as ‘inhumane, inefficient and unfair’ – The Independent

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in mental health, news by sally

“Melvyn Bragg has launched a blistering attack on the Government over its attempts to bring in ‘inhumane’ and unfair laws that would lead to the mentally ill being locked up rather than treated.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd April 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The woman leading fight for working mothers – The Observer

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in news, sex discrimination by sally

“It is one of the most eagerly awaited decisions by the law lords, holding potentially significant ramifications for women in the workplace that could set rules on what behaviour is judged illegal discrimination by employers and bolstering the status of pregnant workers.”

Full story

The Observer, 22nd April 2007

Source: www.observer.guardian.co.uk