7th May: Daily news podcast and news

Daily news podcast

The law of intended consequences?

Well known blogger Geeklawyer opens the batting on the controversy over the government’s decision on fees to barristers in criminal cases: “The government lost a case because it wouldn’t pay barristers a proper rate. No barrister would accept the defendants brief so he had to defend himself while the state had an army of lawyers. The judge said this was an abuse of process. No ….. s**t Sherlock : reverse the burden of proof deprive the accused of the means of defending himself. The governments robbery scheme seems to have been undermined by the own parsimony. Idiots.”

None so deaf as those who will not listen?…

The present government appears to have embarked on a process of ignoring advice from its own advisers. Today, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will press ahead with plans to re-classify cannabis from Group c to Group B - despite recommendations to be published today by the government’s scientific experts, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, that cannabis should remain class C. In a few weeks time, the government will press ahead, Charge of The Light Brigade style, with plans to extend the terror detention without charge laws from 28-42 days - again, despite advice from law officers past and present, the DPP and others with expertise who see no need for an extension to the present law. The government may well lose.

Discussion Board and interaction: We have a new discussion board - functional and quick loading. It will take some time to build up - but if you would like to join, please register. You may upload an ‘avatar’ at 48 x 48 pixels. Instructions on the discussion board console when you register. Discussion Board

Free Weekly Newswire by email
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2nd May: Daily news podcast and news update

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Telegraph: Arrests of binge-drinking women rise by 50pc
Over the course of this weekend I will be developing the newswire and will be updating all the sections on the page.

Discussion Board and interaction: We have a new discussion board - functional and quick loading. It will take some time to build up - but if you would like to join, please register. You may upload an ‘avatar’ at 48 x 48 pixels. Instructions on the discussion board console when you register. Discussion Board

Free Weekly Newswire by email

I am introducing a short weekly newswire by email summarising all the developments of the week. It is likely to go out over the weekend, covering the previous week’s developments.
Please register to receive the email if you would like this free summary.

Geeklawyer
Geeklawyer visits the bottom end of the profession & nearly destroys a large criminal trial

Lillian Edwards: Pangloss - .or beware! that Facebook app you just downloaded might be stealing your data and all of your friends! BBC Story

 

30th April: Daily news and podcast

Daily news podcast

Wednesday 30th April: Editorial will follow later in the day, together with an update on what has been happening on the blogs. In the meantime, you may wish to read Charon’s review of The Three Bridges Restaurant in Battersea after his dinner there last Wednesday evening.

Bar Chairman Warns of Threats to the Independence of the Legal Profession

Bar Chairman Tim Dutton QC has warned of threats to the independence of the legal profession. Addressing the Criminal Bar Association conference in York, he said a shift in mind sets and attitudes was affecting the Bar’s ability as an independent profession to discharge its duties vigorously and independently, and he pointed to three factors driving this:

- politics becoming a career

- attacks on the professions

- spending cuts

 

28 April: Daily news and podcast

Daily news podcast

Hat Tip to The Magistrate’s Blog for drawing our attention to the risks the Metropolitan Police have to take in protecting our City. The BBC reports: “A police force has carried out a risk assessment in case a syndicate of its workers wins the lottery and leaves.Thames Valley Police said many different risks that could affect the force had been assessed, including terror-related matters and power cuts.The assessments were presented as part of a report to the Thames Valley Police Authority on Friday. Unfortunately for the syndicate, a police spokesman said the chances of a win had been assessed as “very low”.

Absurd, unfair and a breach of fundamental rights

Times Law reports that Anti-terrorism legislation was condemned as poorly thought-out by a senior High Court judge yesterday as he declared that the Treasury’s powers to freeze suspects’ bank accounts were unlawful.

In a scathing attack, Collins J, describing the financial orders as ‘ were absurd,unfair and a breach of fundamental rights, is reported as saying: “It was, frankly, another example of an immediate reaction without it being thought through properly — which is rather the pattern with the anti-terrorism measures.”

 

25 April Daily news and podcast

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Law Actually picks up on the new Office for Government Commerce (OGC) logo - left. Fine when horizontal. Not so good when turned 90 degrees. The Times states that the OGC are pressing ahead with the logo. A spokesman for the OGC said: “We concluded that the effect was generic to the particular combination of the letters ‘OGC’ - and is not inappropriate to an organisation that’s looking to have a firm grip on government spend.”

Asp bites picks up on a BBC story about a district judge. Said in issuing an arrest warrant for a man who attacked a Star Wars fan whilst dressed up as Darth Vader (from BBC News): “I hope the force will soon be with him.”

Usefully Employed has a rather good rant about the future of the legal profession

House of Lords decision in Ashley v Chief Constable of Sussex Police - Tort / Battery. See: Law Reports section insitelaw newswire

The process for appointing the next Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales has been announced. The current Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, has been appointed as the Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, and takes up the position on 1 October 2008. Ministry of Justice

 

24 April: Daily news and podcast

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Head of Legal writes…
Lords judgment: Ashley v Chief Constable of Sussex
This case is about a civil action against the police, who shot dead an unarmed man when raiding his home to arrest him. Read the full blog post…

In the early hours of this morning as I visited every blog on my blogroll for the insitelaw newswire “on the blog” section - I came across a blogger who has stopped blogging. I quote: ” …. [A friend at a different Inn] … He had been to a talk at his Inn and one of the speakers (according to him a very senior and influential member of a set of chambers) had said during their speech on ‘advice to pupils’ that they should not keep a blog.”

I can understand that one should be circumspect and careful not to misrepresent… but it is a pity that Chambers should exert pressure on pupils not to keep a blog. But… when the tenancy comes… is a blogger employed? Could a set of chambers then exert pressure on a tenant not to keep a blog?

I dined well last night in my guise as “Charon the restaurant reviewer” at a very good restaurant. The restaurant was out of my manor. It is rare, these days, for me to make ‘house calls’ - but I was reviewing a restaurant for LawandMore. The food was superb. The wine excellent. I shall be writing my review tonight… but to tempt you… I have described the food and wines I enjoyed last night!

Infamy or Praise
Random Thought (10)
“I blog under my real name because I don’t want people to know my pseudonym.”

Visit insitelaw newswire for the latest from the blogs, news, legal week, ministry of justice and the judiciary.

 

23 April: Daily News podcast and news

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DPP says that 42 day detention is not necessary
The Independent reports that plans to detain terrorist suspects for up to 42 days without charge suffered a fresh setback after the controversial measure was described as unnecessary by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Perhaps this will give MPs the backbone to defeat the proposal?

Law Actually picks up on an interesting story: “China, already the world leader in cellphone use, has surpassed the USA as the No. 1 nation in Internet users.”

Great Firewall of China: Unfortunately, China has seen fit to block my Charon QC blog - perhaps my musings infringe the human rights of China’s people? The Great Firewall of China test website seems to be offline! As Hitler said ” The Olympic torch is a beacon of world peace.” (Have I got News for You 18 April)

China arms ship left with no port of call as Britain and US apply pressure
The Guardian reports that Britain and the US have put concerted pressure on southern African states and China to stop a Chinese ship carrying weapons for the Zimbabwean government docking in the region. After years of passive appeasement, the British government appears to be going into high gear on the issue of Zimbabwe. Yesterday we had Foreign Secretary David Milliband warning Mugabe in the strongest terms that the British government would be vocal if Mugabe ’steals’ the elections - as appears increasingly probable. The results for the election held three weeks ago are still not available. It does, however, take some time to stuff ballot boxes with fake votes and take election officials into custody.

 

Daily news and podcast

Daily news podcast
Listen to the news podcast and catch up on: law reports, news, what is on the blogs and the new ‘Judiciary’ section

League tables to irritate the legal profession
It has been done in the health service, the media and the City. Professionals — lawyers included — are increasingly victims of league tables. So braving the ire of that most litigious of groups, today The Times Law section offers its own list: Law 100: the UK’s most powerful lawyers

With a legal profession of over 120,000 and even if some members of the profession are modest enough (or young enough) not to worry about their place in the firmament - this list is going to irritate a fair number of lawyers. Maybe this is a good thing!

A new section on The Judiciary
I have added a new section in the newswire to cover announcements, speeches and news of the Judiciary.

The Magistrate’s Blog
I can do no better than quote this excellent post verbatim:

Not Too Effing Bad Then

Last year I quoted Sir Richard Mottram, the senior civil servant who came out with this memorable opinion:- We’re all fucked. I’m fucked. You’re fucked. The whole department’s fucked. It’s been the biggest cock-up ever and we’re all completely fucked.

According to yesterday’s paper, Sir Richard is about to retire, with a pension pot worth 2.66 million quid. So he’s not entirely f*cked then.

 

21st April: Editorial from newswire

‘Da Vinci’ judge escapes with reprimand
The Times, reports that The “Da Vinci Code” judge who found himself the subject of a disciplinary inquiry after being accused of bias and “intemperate” behaviour has escaped with a reprimand for misconduct. The Geeklawyer blog covers this in a diffferent way.

Solicitor General to help Royal Family integrate into the human race.
Vera Baird, the Solicitor-General, is steering legislation through Parliament to amend the 1701 Act of Settlement to give women equal rights to succeed to the throne. Baird is reported as saying that present laws are “unfair” and “a load of rubbish” She added: “I have always thought that what we have to do with the Royal Family is integrate them as far as possible into the human race.” Telegraph Report

Two strikes and you’re out
The Times Transport correspondent reports that Drink drivers would no longer automatically lose their licences under government plans to lower the alcohol limit for motorists to the equivalent of less than a pint of beer or glass of wine. The plan is to lower the limit from 80mg to 50mg (consistent with much of Europe) and award six penalty points if a driver is over the new lower limit and a ban if a second offence is recorded within five years. Presumably people who drive while completely roaring will continue to be banned?

 

21st April: Daily news up on insitelaw newswire

I have posted the daily news links and podcast to insitelaw newswire. Today, I’ll be updating the blog, law report and editorial.