Law and Rights
In a light hearted speech with a serious message, the Lord Chief Justice has warned of the need for vigilance where the rule of law is concerned.
"I am not sounding a clarion call against any imminent threat to the rule of law. What I am, however, saying is that even in a country with the values with which we are blessed, it is unwise to take them for granted or to assume that we can be sure that in years to come that some new force may not emerge to undermine them; it may be insidious, maybe almost imperceptible. Indeed if insidious and almost imperceptible it is probably more dangerous. So in this context the ?may be? is enough. The future, after all, is long as well as short and the world is changing fast."
Speech at Mansion House, London.
The tragedy is that, in 2012, Parliament enacted the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 which will soon come to remove access to justice for thousands of people who, when in conflict with authority, need an advocate with good understanding of the law and its practical application.
- Laspo 2012 ~ Some Materials
Updated 9th March 2013 The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) is gradually being brought into force. LASPO is one of 18 Public General Acts enacted in 2012. On top of that, 3001 Statutory Instruments have...
- Lord Neuberger On Thomas Erskine
It is rare that on a Monday morning one comes across a speech which is such a pleasure to read as the Seckford lecture by the President of the Supreme Court (Lord Neuberger) at Woodbridge School 18th October - Lord Erskine and Trial by Jury (Acknowledgment:...
- From The Party Conferences No.2 ~ Dangerous Offenders
Here are the conference speeches of Labour's "Shadow" Justice Secretary (Mr Sadiq Khan MP) and the present Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice - Mr Chris Grayling MP. Mr Sadiq Khan ...
- Meet The New Secretary Of State For Justice And Lord Chancellor
Update 7th September: see The Guardian for a video of Liberty's Shami Chakrabarti talking about the appointment of Mr Grayling and the legacy of Kenneth Clarke. It is to be noted that Clarke continues in the government as Minister without Portfolio...
- A Tragedy - Laspo Part 1
The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill received Royal assent and is now, therefore, the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Part 1 of the Act - dealing with legal aid provision - is, in my view, a disgrace....
Law and Rights
The Lord Chief Justice warns
"I am not sounding a clarion call against any imminent threat to the rule of law. What I am, however, saying is that even in a country with the values with which we are blessed, it is unwise to take them for granted or to assume that we can be sure that in years to come that some new force may not emerge to undermine them; it may be insidious, maybe almost imperceptible. Indeed if insidious and almost imperceptible it is probably more dangerous. So in this context the ?may be? is enough. The future, after all, is long as well as short and the world is changing fast."
Speech at Mansion House, London.
The tragedy is that, in 2012, Parliament enacted the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 which will soon come to remove access to justice for thousands of people who, when in conflict with authority, need an advocate with good understanding of the law and its practical application.
- Laspo 2012 ~ Some Materials
Updated 9th March 2013 The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) is gradually being brought into force. LASPO is one of 18 Public General Acts enacted in 2012. On top of that, 3001 Statutory Instruments have...
- Lord Neuberger On Thomas Erskine
It is rare that on a Monday morning one comes across a speech which is such a pleasure to read as the Seckford lecture by the President of the Supreme Court (Lord Neuberger) at Woodbridge School 18th October - Lord Erskine and Trial by Jury (Acknowledgment:...
- From The Party Conferences No.2 ~ Dangerous Offenders
Here are the conference speeches of Labour's "Shadow" Justice Secretary (Mr Sadiq Khan MP) and the present Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice - Mr Chris Grayling MP. Mr Sadiq Khan ...
- Meet The New Secretary Of State For Justice And Lord Chancellor
Update 7th September: see The Guardian for a video of Liberty's Shami Chakrabarti talking about the appointment of Mr Grayling and the legacy of Kenneth Clarke. It is to be noted that Clarke continues in the government as Minister without Portfolio...
- A Tragedy - Laspo Part 1
The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill received Royal assent and is now, therefore, the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Part 1 of the Act - dealing with legal aid provision - is, in my view, a disgrace....