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News, analysis, comment and updates from ICLR's case law and UK legislation platform
This week’s buffet of legal news from home and abroad includes a reversal of policy from Labour and reversals of the burden of proof from the government and the media (both mistaken), as well as a ditching of the dock by the LCJ and some more comical capers via the Clooneys. So stay tuned for… Continue reading
Books reviewed by Paul Magrath Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime by Val McDermid (Profile Books, £18.99) The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale (Bloomsbury, £8.99) Val McDermid is a crime writer with a reputation for gritty psychological thrillers and her approach in Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime is that of an outsider… Continue reading
This week’s litany of legal news from home and abroad includes a grilling of Grayling, a vindication of a vocal legend, a consultation over court fees, and a surveillance of snoops. UPDATED 24 February 2015 Grayling grilled Smiling Justice Secretary appears confident of ultimate victory In a broadly sympathetic interview (more examination in chief than cross) the political columnist Andrew… Continue reading
This week’s selection of legal news from home and abroad includes much that is related to or brought into focus by the terrorist attacks in Paris last week, such as questions about freedom of expression, respect for religion and other rights, and the tension between privacy and electronic intelligence gathering. Other recent articles of interest: Eleanora Rosati… Continue reading
Concluding our review of significant trends and developments in last year’s legal news, part 1 of which covered from January to June 2014. July: Fakes We reported in July (Weekly Notes, 4 July) that some high street banks were using the names of fake solicitors’ firms on the letterhead of their chasers-up to defaulting debtors. This… Continue reading
Welcome to the ICLR Criminal Law Updater for November and December 2014. Here’s our round up of the reportable and unreportable criminal cases decided in the High Court, the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and the UK Supreme Court over the last four weeks. Where a transcript is available on BAILII, a linked reference has… Continue reading
Court procedure may be getting less adversarial but the relationship between lawyers and the executive has become more so, as the number of defeats suffered by the government in judicial review proceedings grows steadily greater. No wonder the government wants to cut back on the scope for bringing judicial review, yet even in this endeavour… Continue reading
Guest post by David Burrows A buttress to the right to a fair trial under article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights is the concept of ‘equality of arms’. This does not mean that where an opponent’s representation is paid for, every civil case justifies a grant of state funding; but, for example,… Continue reading
The week’s selection of legal stories from home and abroad includes a simian entitlement to human rights, a juror’s entitlement to a hot lunch, and the public’s right to government information. Plus the Google tax and a veiled threat. Other recent articles of interest: Dan Bunting, blog post about A conversation with the Lord Chief Justice John Bolch,… Continue reading
Reviewed by Paul Magrath This charming little handbook is now in its third printing, after proving a popular stocking-filler at Wildy’s bookshop. Its author, a retired judge, is also a keen watercolourist and draughtsman, a family trait that apparently can be traced back tot he 18th Century. It is well known, however, that the law… Continue reading
