First JUSTICE International Rule of Law Lecture In 2006, JUSTICE held two major lectures in Middle Temple Hall to cover issues relating to alleged practices by the United States in its self-proclaimed war against terrorism. Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of Ireland gave the first lecture, at Middle Temple […]
Changing the Rules
October 18, 2005
The judiciary, human rights and the constitution Held at Simmons & Simmons the 2005 annual lecture could more accurately be described as a debate. The issues brought to the fore by Roger Smith in his paper, Changing the rules: the judiciary, human rights and the constitution, published in the 2004 annual report, were extensively considered […]
Prosecuting by consent
October 19, 2004
A public prosecution service in the 21st Century The Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald QC described his vision of the Crown Prosecution Service as a ‘properly empowered … organisation of stature, at the heart of criminal justice’. He did admit that ‘there is a long way to go’ before his vision is realised. Although […]
Iraq: the pax Americana and the law
October 14, 2003
The inaugural JUSTICE Tom Sargant memorial annual lecture was given by Lord Alexander of Weedon QC, chair of JUSTICE Council, at the Law Society on 14 October 2003. Marcel Berlins, writing in the Guardian on 20 March 2006, described it as ‘ … a virtuoso performance. Many others have now argued in similar vein, but […]
The Role of the House of Lords in terms of Parliamentary Scrutiny of Legislation
October 9, 2002
JUSTICE annual lecture 2002 given by Lord Williams of Mostyn (then Leader of te House of Lords) on 9 Octover 2002 at the Law Society in London. “The House of Lords is a faithful old hound, toothless, arthritic, sometimes testy, asleep in front of the fire, an object of affection for what he once was, […]
The Evolving Constitution
October 4, 2001
JUSTICE annual lecture 2001 given by Lord Bingham of Cornhill on 4 October 2001. In a comprehensive and insightful speech: he reflected on the principles which underlie our constitution examined more contemporary issues such as the voting system, devolution, and the role of the law lords concluded that the House of Lords should no longer […]
Human Rights- Where are we now?
October 3, 2000
JUSTICE annual lecture 2000 given by Lord Hope of Craighead on 3 October 2000 – the day after the Human Rights Act 1998 came in to force. Lord Craighead examined the overlapping human rights jurisdictions that now exist and drew some lessons from the Scottish experience. He considered that the courts would not be anxious […]