Law and Rights
The government is planning to bring the tribunal judiciary in England and Wales under the overall leadership of the Lord Chief Justice. This will be in addition to the planned merger (by 1st April 2011) of Her Majesty' Court Service and the Tribunals Service. The aim is to have a unified judiciary encompassing the courts and tribunals. The powers of the existing Senior President of Tribunals will transfer to the LCJ and a new office of Head of Tribunals Service will be created. Primary legislation is required and a bill will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time is available. See Ministry of Justice.
The Local Government Association is suggesting that town halls be hired out for use as courts. It is claimed that this will increase the speed of justice. See LGA and also The Independent 18th September 2010.
Cllr Mehboob Khan, chair of the LGA?s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:
?Councils already own a number of buildings, available for community activity. Many town hall chambers would provide the perfect setting for court hearings, with some having existing courtroom facilities. Local authorities are well aware of the sensitivities of keeping victims and witnesses safe. Although specialist courts are needed in some cases, in the vast majority of court cases, council buildings would be more than adequate. It would certainly overcome the problem for rural communities and could maybe provide a boost for council budgets if hire costs were considered.?
Hardly a surprising move from cash-strapped local councils but will government pay to hire a building when the whole objective of closing down local magistrates' courts is to save money? Historically, many magistrates' courts used to be located in town halls - e.g. Bradford, Yorkshire, Huddersfield etc. - but those courts were closed down and replaced by purpose-built magistrates' courts.
- The Magistrates' Courts
The legal system of England and Wales is quite unique with regard to the extensive lay involvement in the administration of justice in the Magistrates' Courts as well as members of the public forming juries in the Crown Court and, occasionally, in...
- Her Majesty's Courts And Tribunals Service And Tribunal Structure
On 1st April, an important change came about with the merger of Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) (formed in 2005) and the Tribunal Service (formed 2006). The new body, an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, is "Her Majesty's...
- The Localism Bill - 1
After some delay, the Localism Bill has finally appeared in Parliament - see here and see Communities and Local Government. The Bill extends to some 207 clauses and 24 Schedules and seeks to make major changes to the relationship between local government...
- Tribunals: The Loss Of The Ajtc
The Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council is one of the public bodies to be axed under the goverment's reforms. Tribunals are a major part of the justice system - for more information see Lawobserver - Tribunals. The AJTC (and its predecessor...
- Tribunals: A Major Reform Is Now Well Under Way
In England and Wales, criminal cases are heard before either the Magistrates? Courts or the Crown Court of England and Wales. Non-criminal cases ? referred to as CIVIL cases or matters ? are heard by the County Courts or by the High Court or by a TRIBUNAL....
Law and Rights
A unified judiciary ... and why not use the local town hall ...
The Local Government Association is suggesting that town halls be hired out for use as courts. It is claimed that this will increase the speed of justice. See LGA and also The Independent 18th September 2010.
Cllr Mehboob Khan, chair of the LGA?s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:
?Councils already own a number of buildings, available for community activity. Many town hall chambers would provide the perfect setting for court hearings, with some having existing courtroom facilities. Local authorities are well aware of the sensitivities of keeping victims and witnesses safe. Although specialist courts are needed in some cases, in the vast majority of court cases, council buildings would be more than adequate. It would certainly overcome the problem for rural communities and could maybe provide a boost for council budgets if hire costs were considered.?
Hardly a surprising move from cash-strapped local councils but will government pay to hire a building when the whole objective of closing down local magistrates' courts is to save money? Historically, many magistrates' courts used to be located in town halls - e.g. Bradford, Yorkshire, Huddersfield etc. - but those courts were closed down and replaced by purpose-built magistrates' courts.
- The Magistrates' Courts
The legal system of England and Wales is quite unique with regard to the extensive lay involvement in the administration of justice in the Magistrates' Courts as well as members of the public forming juries in the Crown Court and, occasionally, in...
- Her Majesty's Courts And Tribunals Service And Tribunal Structure
On 1st April, an important change came about with the merger of Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) (formed in 2005) and the Tribunal Service (formed 2006). The new body, an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, is "Her Majesty's...
- The Localism Bill - 1
After some delay, the Localism Bill has finally appeared in Parliament - see here and see Communities and Local Government. The Bill extends to some 207 clauses and 24 Schedules and seeks to make major changes to the relationship between local government...
- Tribunals: The Loss Of The Ajtc
The Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council is one of the public bodies to be axed under the goverment's reforms. Tribunals are a major part of the justice system - for more information see Lawobserver - Tribunals. The AJTC (and its predecessor...
- Tribunals: A Major Reform Is Now Well Under Way
In England and Wales, criminal cases are heard before either the Magistrates? Courts or the Crown Court of England and Wales. Non-criminal cases ? referred to as CIVIL cases or matters ? are heard by the County Courts or by the High Court or by a TRIBUNAL....