The wider proposed reforms in the Bill will lead to a significant amount of additional business for the Sheriff Court. We are concerned that the Sheriff Court may not have the capacity to cope with the likely volume of cases that will result not just from these reforms, but from the implementation of the court […]
Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill
March 10, 2014
The Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill will introduce important procedural limitations to the process of judicial review in Scotland. Judicial review allows individual citizens to seek a remedy for the unlawful conduct of public authorities and decision makers. In a country without a written constitution which governs the relationship between the individual and the State, its […]
Lord Chief Justice launches JUSTICE Strategy
March 4, 2014
We were delighted that Lord Chief Justice has launched our strategy for 2014-16. His speech – Reshaping Justice – was apt. The new strategy reflects a reinvigoration of our organisation, one which sees us return our focus to the proper working of our justice system. We launch our new vision at a time when that […]
MPs debate latest criminal justice proposals and judicial review cuts
February 20, 2014
MPs will return from their week long February recess on Monday to the Second Reading debate on the new Criminal Justice and Courts Bill. The Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 5 February 2014. It would introduce a number of significant changes to criminal and civil justice system and to the substantive […]
Deportation with Assurances
February 13, 2014
In November 2013, the Home Secretary asked David Anderson QC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to conduct an independent review of the operation of the Government’s practice on deportations with assurances (DWA). While the most high profile of these cases involved the return of Abu Qatada to Jordan, the Government has increasingly sought to […]
Immigration Bill
February 10, 2014
JUSTICE is concerned that the Immigration Bill would create a more legally obscure system of immigration control, which places greater power in the hands of administrative authorities without effective means of independent oversight. We regret that the proposal to remove access to an independent determination on appeal from most applicants will – in practice – […]
The Intelligence and Security Committee: Privacy and Security Inquiry
The Intelligence and Security Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into the legal framework which governs interception of communications by the security agencies and the balance which is struck between privacy and security in that legislation. Triggered by the Snowden revelations, the inquiry issued a call for evidence which closed on 7 February 2014. In […]
Future of the ECHR – JUSTICE consultation response
January 30, 2014
The Council of Europe is currently conducting a consultation on the longer term future of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The consultation closed on 27 January 2014 and is this exercise will continue until Spring 2015. JUSTICE considers that the future of the Convention system must build upon a commitment to the right […]
Immigration Bill – House of Commons Report Stage
JUSTICE is concerned that the Immigration Bill would create a more legally obscure system of immigration control, which places greater power in the hands of administrative authorities without effective means of independent oversight. Read our briefing for the Report Stage of the bill in the House of Commons
Future of the European Convention on Human Rights
January 27, 2014
The Council of Europe is currently conducting a consultation on the longer term future of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The consultation closed on 27 January 2014 and is this exercise will continue until Spring 2015. JUSTICE considers that the future of the Convention system must build upon a commitment to the right […]