‘She won’t be the last’: why not enough has changed since the murder of Banaz Mahmod – The Guardian

Posted September 22nd, 2020 in domestic violence, families, forced marriages, murder, news, police, young persons by sally

‘In 2006, the 20-year-old was killed on the orders of family members. Ahead of an ITV drama on the case, her sister reflects on the police response.’

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The Guardian, 21st September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Leah Trueblood: ‘Following the Science:’ a Legal and Democratic Challenge – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘During a pandemic, it seems like a good idea for politicians to “follow the science.” But what does this actually mean? The claim that the Government is “following the science” is in many respects laudable, but is it also a convenient way to avoid or limit accountability? Due to a lack of transparency, it is unclear whether and to what extent substantive decisions are being made by scientists, or if this is just a politically helpful turn of phrase. A recent Institute for Government report Decision Making in a Crisis: First Responses to the Coronavirus Pandemic potentially provides some insight into this question. The report says that when deciding whether to lockdown the country in March, the Government looked to science for “answers” for what to do, rather than as part of a range of inputs into a decision-making process. Is the Government delegating decisions for which, under statute, it is exclusively responsible? Possibly. It is necessary to consider how decision-making and accountability mechanisms for decision-makers must be modified to reflect this change in who exercises power in the United Kingdom and how. It is often argued that scientists should be “on tap but not on top.” This post asks if this “on tap not on top” relationship is possible during a pandemic, and to assess the challenges for legal and democratic accountability if it is not.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 21st September 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Coronavirus approach ‘creates risks for the rule of law’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 21st, 2020 in coronavirus, human rights, news, parliament, rule of law, select committees by sally

‘The government’s approach to the coronavirus is creating risks for the rule of law, politicians have warned in a report looking at the human rights implications of Covid-19.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st September 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Infected blood scandal: Treasury refuses to publish key documents – The Guardian

‘The Treasury is refusing to publish key documents about the treatment of haemophiliacs infected by the NHS with HIV on the grounds that it would be “disruptive” and material might be “distorted” by the media.’

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The Guardian, 21st September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judges parachuted in to help employment tribunal backlog – Litigation Futures

Posted September 21st, 2020 in coronavirus, delay, employment, employment tribunals, news by sally

‘Deploying non-employment judges into employment tribunals (ETs) and more remote hearings are part of a package of measures announced by the government yesterday to help the system cope with the high level of demand.’

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Litigation Futures, 18th September 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

EP 125: Transition towards Brexit in December 2020 – Law Pod UK

Posted September 21st, 2020 in bills, brexit, news, podcasts by sally

‘Professor Catherine Barnard discusses the difficulties to be overcome in the negotiations and the challenges presented by border issues as Parliament debates the Internal Market Bill.’

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Law Pod UK, 21st September 2020

Source: audioboom.com

Judge refuses to stand aside amid row over UK Covid trial delays – The Guardian

‘A senior judge has refused to step down from a case involving custody time limits after she replaced another judge who criticised the government over delays in delivering justice.’

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The Guardian, 18th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

£10,000 fines warning for failing to self-isolate as England Covid infections soar – The Guardian

Posted September 21st, 2020 in care homes, children, coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, fines, news, statistics by sally

‘People in England who refuse to self-isolate when required to do so will face fines of up to £10,000 under an emergency “carrot and stick” plan to control the second wave of Covid-19 sweeping the country.’

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The Guardian, 20th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Jailed solicitor struck off for historic child abuse convictions – Legal Futures

‘A veteran solicitor serving nearly nine years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of historic indecent assault against children has been struck off.’

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Legal Futures, 18th September 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Supreme Court’s decision in Unwired Planet – what comes next? – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

‘The UK Supreme Court has handed down its long-awaited judgment in Unwired Planet. Its decision has profound implications for patent owners and implementers alike and is likely to lead to heavily contested jurisdictional disputes going forward.’

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Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 15th September 2020

Source: competitionbulletin.com

Renters: Eviction cases resume after six-month ban – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2020 in coronavirus, debts, delay, domestic violence, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, repossession by sally

‘Eviction hearings will now resume in courts in England and Wales – but the most serious cases will be given priority.’

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BBC News, 21st September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Parliament surrendered role over Covid emergency laws, says Lady Hale – The Guardian

‘The former president of the supreme court says parliament “surrendered” its role over emergency laws restricting freedoms amid the coronavirus pandemic, in an intervention expected to embolden MPs threatening a Commons revolt.’

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The Guardian, 20th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Public law children case update: contact, nationality and stays – Local Government Lawyer

‘Georgina Dalton summarises the latest public law children rulings, covering issues such as contact during care, changing the nationality of children in care, and practice on granting short-term stays.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th September 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court allows appeal by claimant after council bids to withdraw admissions of liability in failure to remove case – Local Government Lawyer

‘An unnamed South Wales local authority has been stopped by the High Court from withdrawing three admissions of lability made in a lengthy dispute over the care while a child of J, who is now aged 20 and seeks damages.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th September 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Health and Care Lasting Powers of Attorney – Family Law

Posted September 18th, 2020 in care homes, Court of Protection, health, medical treatment, news, powers of attorney by sally

‘When we think about Lasting Powers of Attorney we usually think about property and financial affairs. There is, however, a second type of Lasting Power of Attorney which relates to health and care. In the current circumstances, it may be particularly relevant and important to consider putting in place health and care Lasting Powers of Attorney.’

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Family Law, 16th September 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Costs rules: what you need to know – Family Law

Posted September 18th, 2020 in costs, divorce, families, financial dispute resolution, financial provision, news by sally

‘“No one enters litigation simply expecting a blank cheque.” Francis J in WG v HG [2018] EWFC 84. But is this the case, or are we experiencing a new wave of litigants chancing their luck at the roulette wheel? Costs in financial remedy proceedings have come increasingly under the spotlight in recent years, most recently highlighted in some interesting and important commentary by Mostyn J, Francis J and Cohen J as to the manner in which litigation is conducted.’

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Family Law, 16th September 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

The Supreme Court’s decision in Unwired Planet – what comes next? – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

‘The UK Supreme Court has handed down its long-awaited judgment in Unwired Planet. Its decision has profound implications for patent owners and implementers alike and is likely to lead to heavily contested jurisdictional disputes going forward.’

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Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 15th September

Source: competitionbulletin.com

Man guilty of violent south London park sexual assault – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted September 18th, 2020 in Crown Prosecution Service, imprisonment, news, rape, sentencing, sexual offences by sally

‘A violent man, who made up a twin to use as a scapegoat for the sexual attack he had committed, has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment, with a recommendation that he serve at least two-thirds, and an extended licence period of eight years.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 17th September 2020

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Bar students required to decide exam retake before knowing results – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 18th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, examinations, legal education, news by sally

‘Aspiring barristers caught up in last month’s bar exam fiasco will have to decide whether or not to retake them before knowing their results.nStudents have until 21 September to register to take the centralised Bar Professional Training Course in professional ethics and civil and criminal litigation – using the traditional pen and paper – starting from 5 October. They will have to decide before knowing the results of their August exams, which were plagued with technical faults. The civil and criminal litigation results for the August sit will be released on 12 October. The professional ethics results will be released on 6 November.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th September 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judicial diversity statistics show ‘significant disparity’ between solicitors and barristers – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Solicitors are significantly less likely to be appointed judges than barristers even though more solicitors than barristers are applying for posts, according to a landmark diversity report published today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th September 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk