JUSTICE joins together with the International Commission of Jurists, Amnesty International and REDRESS (“the Interveners”) to urge the Court of Appeal to reconsider the High Court’s decision to strike-out the case of Belhaj & Anor v Straw & Ors. The Interveners regret that the High Court judgment in this case may immunise the United Kingdom […]
JUSTICE briefs MPs and Peers on Residence test
July 1, 2014
As MPs and Peers prepare to vote to approve the Government’s controversial new Residence test for legal aid, JUSTICE expresses concern about its legality. By way of summary, JUSTICE is concerned that these changes are unnecessary and ill-considered. The changes, in our view, are incompatible with the right to the equal protection of the law […]
Charities and NGOs call on Peers to stand up for judicial review
June 26, 2014
Today JUSTICE joins charities and organisations from across the UK to condemn the Government’s proposed changes to judicial review. Organisations working for children, older people and bereaved families, with and for prisoners and accused people; expert in disability, mental health, torture and free speech, come together to highlight the constitutional significance of reforming judicial review. […]
Supreme Court clarifies the duty of disclosure post-conviction
June 18, 2014
In a judgment given today the Supreme Court considered whether there was an obligation upon the Police and Crown Prosecution Service to provide evidential material not previously seen to convicted persons seeking to demonstrate innocence on appeal or by way of application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The High Court previously held when […]
Supreme Court clarifies the duty of disclosure post-conviction
In a judgment given today the Supreme Court considered whether there was an obligation upon the Police and Crown Prosecution Service to provide evidential material not previously seen to convicted persons seeking to demonstrate innocence on appeal or by way of application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The High Court previously held when […]
Peers to debate judicial review cuts
May 2, 2014
On 7 May 2014 – next Wednesday – the House of Lords will debate a Motion to Regret the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2014 (“the Regulations”), tabled by Lord Pannick QC. JUSTICE has today written to all Peers urging them to support Lord Pannick’s Motion to Regret. The Regulations were laid […]
Unjustified judicial review reforms restrict access to justice
April 30, 2014
JUSTICE welcomes a Report published today, by the Joint Committee on Human Rights (“JCHR”) – an influential cross-party Committee of MPs and Peers – which concludes that the Government’s proposals to reform judicial review and limit legal aid for public law challenges may be incompatible with access to justice and endanger the rule of law. […]
NGOs question scope of new torture inquiry
April 7, 2014
JUSTICE – together with a number of other NGOs – has written to the Foreign Secretary to ask how the Government can justify passing the responsibility for the inquiry into the treatment of detainees – formerly under the supervision of Sir Peter Gibson – to the Intelligence and Security Committee (“ISC”). The signatories to the […]
New cuts to legal aid for judicial review
March 24, 2014
Proposed restrictions to legal aid for judicial review claims are unnecessary and ill-considered. Because of the way in which the Regulations have been put forward, they may not even be debated in Parliament. JUSTICE is calling on individual MPs and Peers to table motions against the reform. On 14 March, the Ministry of Justice published […]
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 […]