Criminal court backlog
Mail, Whitehaven News, News & Star, Westmorland Gazette, Times & Star 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 Family Lawyer 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.”
Rwanda Bill
LSE Blog mentions the Law Society’s response to the Rwanda Bill, which passed its first vote in the House of Commons yesterday.
Law Society chief executive officer Ian Jeffery said: “Independent judicial oversight is a bedrock of the rule of law and essential to ensuring there are democratic safeguards for individual rights.
"The measures taken in this bill would effectively place government above the law and demonstrate a profound lack of respect for the rule of law and separation of powers.”
Guidance to legal professionals
Jonathan Goldsmith, chair of the Law Society’s Policy & Regulatory Affairs Committee, writes in the Gazette about various guidance that legal professional organisations offer to their members.
Wills reform
Legal Futures writes about the Law society’s views on electronic wills and our response to the Law Commission’s consultation on wills reform.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “We hope that if electronic wills are introduced, more people will be encouraged to write wills. However, it is vital that there is an opportunity for detailed examination of what is being proposed.”
Jade Gani, member of the Law Society’s Wills and Equity Committee, spoke to BBC Cornwall (from 01:21:20) about electronic wills and predatory marriage.
Collapse of Axiom Ince
Global Legal Post reports 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:
- Irish government to bring legal challenge over Northern Ireland Legacy Bill – Sky News
- Post Office scandal: MPs want individuals to be held to account – Computer Weekly
- Are UK firms prepared for ‘seismic’ changes to corporate liability law? – City A.M.
- Survey shows number of lawyers from privileged backgrounds remains high – Legal Cheek
- AI cannot be named as an inventor for patents, Supreme Court finds – Gazette
- MoJ has launched an investigation into a Nottingham private prison – Guardian
- EU new asylum deal – Guardian
- Live updates of the doctors’ strike – i news (£)