JUSTICE responded to the Ministry of Justice consultation on introducing further fees in the courts and tribunals. Chief amongst our concerns are: a 10% uplift on all court fees in civil proceedings other than those already increased above cost; an increase to the maximum fees payable in civil claims, from £10,000 to at least £20,000 […]
PH and HH v Deputy Prosecutor of Italian Republic, Genoa; FK v Polish Judicial Authority
September 21, 2015
Facts These two cases involved the extradition of parents of young children under the Extradition Act 2003. In PH and HH, an Italian Court issued a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) in respect of both parents of three children who had been convicted of drug trafficking and fled Italy while on bail. In FK, a Polish […]
Michael and others v The Chief Constable of South Wales Police and another
Facts On 5 August 2009 at 2.29am, Ms Michael dialled 999 requesting police protection from her historically aggressive ex-boyfriend. Ms Michael told the call handler that her ex-boyfriend had come to the house, found her with another man, bit her ear and had taken the other man away in the car saying he would come […]
Judicial review claimants and financial disclosure (Cm 9117)
September 17, 2015
JUSTICE and the Public Law Project (“PLP”) prepared a joint response to the Government’s recent consultation on the compulsory disclosure of financial information by claimants for judicial review and applicants for costs protection, pursuant to the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. This consultation concerns the approach to rules of court that may be made […]
JUSTICE Annual Report 2015
JUSTICE Annual Report 2014-15
Nunn v Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary
July 30, 2015
Facts This case concerned the extent of any continuing duty upon the police or the Crown Prosecution Service to assist a convicted person in gathering and examining evidence post-conviction, with a view to challenging that conviction on appeal. The appellant, Kevin Nunn, was convicted in November 2006 of the murder of his former girlfriend. Nunn […]
JUSTICE launches report ‘In the Dock’
July 2, 2015
Last night JUSTICE published its most recent report, In the Dock: Reassessing the use of the dock in criminal trial which reviews the criminal dock and recommends that its use is discontinued. The audience from across the profession, including barristers, solicitors, judges and academics heard from the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales who welcomed the report for “raising the debate”. […]
In the dock: Reassessing the use of the dock in criminal trials
Yesterday (1 July) JUSTICE published its most recent report, which reviews the criminal dock and recommends its use is discontinued. JUSTICE is concerned that the use of the dock impacts upon the defendant’s right to a fair trial, in particular: effective participation in one’s defence; preserving the presumption of innocence; and maintaining dignity in the […]
In the dock
July 1, 2015
Reassessing the use of the dock in criminal trials The use of the dock for adult defendants in our criminal courts is unquestioned. Secure docks – with high walls made of glass panels – are most common, although some defendants will be held in open, wooden docks. While some courts will allow the defendant out […]
JUSTICE welcomes the Secretary of State’s intention to tackle the ‘creaking, outdated’ justice system
June 23, 2015
JUSTICE welcomes today’s speech from The Rt. Hon Michael Gove MP, his first address as Secretary of State for Justice. We support his intention to address the ‘dangerous inequality’ in our courts, including through reform of the civil justice system. As JUSTICE Director Andrea Coomber comments: “We are encouraged by the Secretary of State’s address which […]