Criminal court backlog
LiverpoolWorld, Totnes Times, Oxford Mail, Barnet Post, Milton Keynes Citizen, Bucks Herald and more than 50 regional publications report the latest criminal court backlog figures.
The number of outstanding cases in the Crown Court – 66,547 – is the highest on record.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “The criminal justice system is withering at the root due to decades of underinvestment and the government’s failure to tackle the crisis.
“Delays in the courts are being compounded by a chronic shortage of lawyers and judges, overrun prisons and courts in disrepair. The increase in the number of people on remand for long periods awaiting trial is extremely concerning.”
Crisis in the County Court
Today’s Wills and Probate covers the growing crisis in the County Court, as we express concern over the rising delays, poorly maintained court estate, underfunding in civil legal aid and high number of litigants forced to represent themselves.
President Nick Emmerson said: “In at least eight courts, including Blackpool County Court and Doncaster Justice Centre North, reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been found, meaning they have been forced to close.
“This disrupts the work of the courts, adds pressure to the surrounding courts who have to pick up the slack and creates extensive disruption to litigants, practitioners and court staff.
“The court estate needs significant investment to ensure it is fit for purpose. If government fails to do this, repair issues will continue to cause delays and impact the work of the County Court.”
Collapse of Axiom Ince
Legal Cheek, Legal Futures and Gazette report that we welcome the decision by the Legal Services Board (LSB) to undertake an independent review in the regulatory events that led up to the SRA’s intervention into Axiom Ince.
Chief executive officer Ian Jeffery said: “As the oversight body responsible for assessing and monitoring effective and transparent regulatory performance, the LSB has the necessary investigation and enforcement powers to ensure that the events and actions relating to this very serious incident are fully brought to light.”
Also worth a read:
- Phone hacking victims could launch a legal challenge if police do not reopen a criminal investigation into Mirror newspapers – BBC
- Rising support for law change in assisted dying claims - Guardian
- Scottish government is set to abandon its appeal against the UK government’s veto of gender reforms – BBC
- Consumers find multiplicity of legal regulators confusing – Legal Futures
- Junior doctors begin largest strike in their history today – Times (£)