A JUSTICE Working Party recommends the introduction of lower-level, qualified, trained and empowered dispute resolution officers to deal with the bulk of cases in the civil courts and tribunals. An integrated online and telephone platform – providing comprehensive legal information, advice and assistance – should support individuals through this reshaped justice system, says the Working […]
Delivering Justice in an Age of Austerity
As part of our new strategy, JUSTICE is returning to working more closely with our members. In 2014, we launched a Working Party of our membership on Delivering Justice in an Age of Austerity, focused on the civil courts and tribunals, and chaired by The Rt. Hon Sir Stanley Burnton. The report of the Working […]
Lord Judge speaks of importance of JUSTICE
February 12, 2015
Judicial Review: Proposals for further reform
November 26, 2013
JUSTICE considers that the proposals for reform in Judicial Review: Proposals for further reform are ill-considered, poorly evidenced and ill-advised. The changes proposed to legal aid for judicial review appear designed to insulate public decision makers from effective judicial oversight Proposals on standing and costs could significantly impact upon public interest litigation within the United […]
Transforming Legal Aid
September 27, 2013
JUSTICE considers that the proposals in Transforming Legal Aid are rushed, ill-considered and unsupported by evidence. We regret that less than a year after the implementation of the last reforms in Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (“LASPO”), the Government is proposing a series of changes which fail to consider the important […]
Scottish Government Consultation on Civil Appeals from the Court of Session
September 1, 2013
JUSTICE responded to the Scottish Government consultation on the proposal to introduce a leave requirement for Scottish cases to proceed to the Supreme Court. Currently no equivalent requirement for leave applies to that applicable in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Instead, appeals must be certified by counsel before being referred. JUSTICE expressed our support for […]
Retaining the DNA of people arrested but not charged: Biometrics Commissioner Consultation
July 18, 2013
JUSTICE regrets the decision in the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 to depart from the DNA retention model operating in Scotland. The decision to provide for the continuing retention of DNA taken from individuals on arrest, even in circumstances where no charge results, will, in our view, be extremely difficult to justify. We are particularly […]
Making Justice Work: Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill
July 2, 2013
The Making Justice Work: Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill Consultation ran from February to May 2013. It contained proposals to restructure the way civil cases and summary criminal cases are dealt with by the courts in Scotland. The proposals suggest a legal framework for implementing the majority of recommendations of the Scottish Civil Courts Review. The […]
Protocol 15 to the European Convention on Human Rights
June 24, 2013
On the opening of Protocol 15 of the European Convention on Human Rights, JUSTICE and the International Commission of Jurists, together with other national and international NGOs urged the Contracting Parties to take steps to ensure that the changes in the Protocol would not result in weaker protection for individual rights across Europe. Principally, the […]
Draft Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Bill
June 14, 2013
The Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Draft Bill has been published in response to the line of European Court of Human Rights case-law which concludes that the absolute ban on prisoners voting in section 3 Representation of the People Act 1983 (“RPA”) is incompatible with the right to participate in full and fair elections. A Joint Committee […]