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JUSTICE welcomes the Secretary of State’s intention to tackle the ‘creaking, outdated’ justice system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 […]
Lord Chief Justice endorses JUSTICE report on civil courts and tribunals
JUSTICE welcomes yesterday’s address by Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, in which he stressed the need for wide ranging reform of the justice system: “…I hope that we can create a better court and tribunal system, with rules and procedures to ensure that the right work is carried out […]
A Public Service Ombudsman
June 16, 2015
JUSTICE welcomes the decision to reform and modernise the public service ombudsman system, which we have been advocating for over three decades. Our influential report of 1961, The Citizen and the Administration, was credited as leading to the creation of the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. Only a few years later, in 1969, in […]
Snooping law fit for a digital age? Let’s rip up RIPA and start again.
June 11, 2015
Today, in a long-awaited report, the Independent Reviewer of Counter-Terrorism Legislation, David Anderson QC echoes JUSTICE’s call to ‘start from scratch’ with a new surveillance law fit for a digital age. For almost a decade, since its adoption, JUSTICE has urged reform of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 – or RIPA – the […]
Snooping law for a digital age? Let’s rip up RIPA and start again.
Today, in a long-awaited report – A Question of Trust – the Independent Reviewer of Counter-Terrorism Legislation, Lord Anderson of Ipswich QC echoes JUSTICE’s call to ‘start from scratch’ with a new surveillance law fit for a digital age. For almost a decade, since its adoption, JUSTICE has urged reform of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers […]
More on the Delivering Justice in an Age of Austerity Report
May 8, 2015
The JUSTICE Working Party on Delivering Justice in an Age of Austerity was tasked with the question: how best to maximise justice for everyone, not simply those who can afford the cost of legal advice and representation? Its recent report provides an answer, setting out proposals for systemic change to the way our civil courts […]