Weekly Notes

This week’s platinum album of legal news and comment includes lyrical logic and poetic justice, along with a threatened library and a tender-hearted omnishambles. Prisons “Stone walls do not a prison make…” No indeed. They can just as easily be turned into a luxury town centre hotel or new housing development. Hence the Chancellor’s announcement this… Continue reading

This week’s roundup of legal news and events covers Pro Bono week, litigants in person, investigatory powers and freedom of information, plus human rights and inhuman wrongs from around the globe. Pro Bono week Attorney General kicks off annual celebration The start of the 14th National Pro Bono Week was marked on Monday 2 November  by a… Continue reading

This week’s legal tricks and illegal treats include a trial of witches, a woman imprisoned in a man’s body, a rapid (but not rushed) review of parliamentary convention, a thin veil of intimidation and a bonfire of other vanities. But first, here’s a seasonal picture of a well seasoned judge:  Salem witch trial latest Witch vexed… Continue reading

This week’s lineup of legal news and views considers diversity in legal careers and promotion, public trust in judges, what happens when they disagree with their betters, and some class and not so classy actions.   Diversity at Law Are legal careers mobility-optimised? The appointment this week of two women as High Court judges, one of them… Continue reading

This week’s merry-go-roundup of legal news and events includes a U-turning Lord Chancellor, a truanting parent, a litigious aunt, a savvy data subject and his refusal to dock in an unsafe harbour. UPDATED 22 October 2015 Ryanair Justice Gove predicted to bin tax on guilt After debating a motion of regret, members of the House… Continue reading

The big news this week has been ICLR’s own birthday, and the book, the talk and the bursary which came with it. But we’ve squeezed in some other news as well.   “150 Not Out” ICLR’s sesquicentennial celebration   Recently (see below) a judge in the United States ruled that the tune of the popular song… Continue reading

This week’s sketch of key events in the legal calendar includes the Lord Chancellor’s breakfast, some regulatory news, new legislation, toytown terrorism and a classical philosopher’s retrial. Plus highs and lows of laws overseas. Happy New Legal Year New Lord Chancellor’s breakfast of judicial champions Michael Gove, as Lord Chancellor, opened the legal year in the… Continue reading

This week’s roundup of legal news and events includes Lord Sumption’s assumption, Jeremy Corbyn’s legal team, Gove’s policy revisions, and two Transparency Project investigations. Plus human rights in foreign parts and a porcine speculation.   Judicial diversity Lord Sumption makes an assumption In modern Britain, the fastest way to make enemies is to deliver a… Continue reading

The latest buffet of legal news and events includes confusion over sex cases, the heroic resistance of art to official state stupidity, and links to some interesting reading and lectures. And over the next week Team ICLR is in Berlin, to record its impressions of international librarianship.   Ai Weiwei at the RA Prisoner of conscience makes art… Continue reading

This week’s collection of legal news and related matters includes the legality of drone strikes, the fate of Just Solutions, the future of human rights legislation and the decline and fall of English literature’s most controversial novel.   Legality of drone strikes Is there a Kill List? The announcement by David Cameron in the House… Continue reading