Law and Rights
Home Affairs Committee - report on the US-UK Extradition Treaty in the conclusion section the committee states:
The Committee is proposing significant changes to the extradition arrangements between the US and the UK not because we are critical of the American justice system but because we recognise the importance of robust extradition arrangements between our two countries. Such extradition arrangements are now threatened by loss of public confidence in the UK and there is a risk that, with time, that lack of confidence will translate into wider disaffection. We believe that the Government should act now to restore public faith in the Treaty by rebalancing the requirements for the provision of information, urgently opening negotiations about the re-introduction of an evidence test, and introducing a forum bar. The Committee believes that these changes will allow for a fair and balanced system of justice between the US and the UK as regards extradition.
Ministry of Justice - Consultation: Punishment and Reform - Effective Community Sentences - The consultation is open to 22nd June 2012.
This consultation sets out
proposals for radical reforms to the way in which sentences served in the community operate. Victims and society have a right to expect that wrongdoing results in punishment, and that they will be protected from further reoffending. Ultimately our goal must be to reduce crime and see fewer victims.
Selection Commission for the next President of the Supreme Court of the U.K. The advertisement states - "The selection commission is anxious to attract applications from the widest field, including candidates who are not already Justices of the Supreme Court. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate, in addition to the judicial qualities of a Supreme Court Justice, the ability to give outstanding leadership and to represent the Court in a wide range of circumstances.
The statutory minimum qualification for appointment is to have held high judicial office for a period of at least two years, or to have satisfied the judicial appointment eligibility condition on a 15-year basis or to have been a qualifying practitioner for a period of at least 15 years. In making its recommendation the selection commission will have regard to the requirements under section 27 of the Act that a selection must be on merit, and that the commission must ?ensure that between them the Judges will have knowledge of, and experience of practice in, the law of each part of the United Kingdom.?
This raises the possibility of a lawyer leap-frogging straight to the Presidency of the Court. Interesting !!
- Appointments To The Supreme Court Of The Uk
Updated 27th February - link to other blogs and some of the 'tweets' on the appointments system The appointments of three Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom have been announced - Number 10 and see Lord Neuberger's (President...
- News Roundup - Savile ~ Hillsborough ~ Prince Charles ~ Supreme Court
Savile: The BBC has announced that Dame Janet Smith (formerly Lady Justice Smith) is to lead their internal inquiry into the Savile affair - BBC 17th October and The Guardian 16th October - but her work will not begin until the Police give the go-ahead. ...
- Gary Mckinnon Will Not Be Extradited To The Usa
On human rights grounds, the Home Secretary has blocked the extradition to the USA of Mr Gary McKinnon - Full statement to Parliament 16th October 2012 and see video Channel 4. Mrs May's statement went well beyond the McKinnon case and...
- Selecting The Senior Judiciary
Updated 27th March: The think-tank Centreforum has issued a report - "Guarding the Guardians: Towards an independent, accountable and diverse senior judiciary" - (PDF, 78 pages - Executive Summary and 7 Chapters). See also Centreforum's...
- Extradition - The Scott Baker Review
Gary MacKinnon - facing extradition to USJoshua Rozenberg wrote in the Law Society Gazette (27th October) that the Baker report on extradition is something to build on. [Scott Baker Report - "A review of the United Kingdom's Extradition...
Law and Rights
A report, a consultation and an important job vacancy
Home Affairs Committee - report on the US-UK Extradition Treaty in the conclusion section the committee states:
The Committee is proposing significant changes to the extradition arrangements between the US and the UK not because we are critical of the American justice system but because we recognise the importance of robust extradition arrangements between our two countries. Such extradition arrangements are now threatened by loss of public confidence in the UK and there is a risk that, with time, that lack of confidence will translate into wider disaffection. We believe that the Government should act now to restore public faith in the Treaty by rebalancing the requirements for the provision of information, urgently opening negotiations about the re-introduction of an evidence test, and introducing a forum bar. The Committee believes that these changes will allow for a fair and balanced system of justice between the US and the UK as regards extradition.
*****
Ministry of Justice - Consultation: Punishment and Reform - Effective Community Sentences - The consultation is open to 22nd June 2012.
This consultation sets out
proposals for radical reforms to the way in which sentences served in the community operate. Victims and society have a right to expect that wrongdoing results in punishment, and that they will be protected from further reoffending. Ultimately our goal must be to reduce crime and see fewer victims.
*****
Selection Commission for the next President of the Supreme Court of the U.K. The advertisement states - "The selection commission is anxious to attract applications from the widest field, including candidates who are not already Justices of the Supreme Court. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate, in addition to the judicial qualities of a Supreme Court Justice, the ability to give outstanding leadership and to represent the Court in a wide range of circumstances.
The statutory minimum qualification for appointment is to have held high judicial office for a period of at least two years, or to have satisfied the judicial appointment eligibility condition on a 15-year basis or to have been a qualifying practitioner for a period of at least 15 years. In making its recommendation the selection commission will have regard to the requirements under section 27 of the Act that a selection must be on merit, and that the commission must ?ensure that between them the Judges will have knowledge of, and experience of practice in, the law of each part of the United Kingdom.?
This raises the possibility of a lawyer leap-frogging straight to the Presidency of the Court. Interesting !!
- Appointments To The Supreme Court Of The Uk
Updated 27th February - link to other blogs and some of the 'tweets' on the appointments system The appointments of three Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom have been announced - Number 10 and see Lord Neuberger's (President...
- News Roundup - Savile ~ Hillsborough ~ Prince Charles ~ Supreme Court
Savile: The BBC has announced that Dame Janet Smith (formerly Lady Justice Smith) is to lead their internal inquiry into the Savile affair - BBC 17th October and The Guardian 16th October - but her work will not begin until the Police give the go-ahead. ...
- Gary Mckinnon Will Not Be Extradited To The Usa
On human rights grounds, the Home Secretary has blocked the extradition to the USA of Mr Gary McKinnon - Full statement to Parliament 16th October 2012 and see video Channel 4. Mrs May's statement went well beyond the McKinnon case and...
- Selecting The Senior Judiciary
Updated 27th March: The think-tank Centreforum has issued a report - "Guarding the Guardians: Towards an independent, accountable and diverse senior judiciary" - (PDF, 78 pages - Executive Summary and 7 Chapters). See also Centreforum's...
- Extradition - The Scott Baker Review
Gary MacKinnon - facing extradition to USJoshua Rozenberg wrote in the Law Society Gazette (27th October) that the Baker report on extradition is something to build on. [Scott Baker Report - "A review of the United Kingdom's Extradition...