Criminal court delays
Private Eye (print only) covers the crisis in the criminal justice system, as rising Crown court delays leave thousands waiting for justice.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “The number of outstanding cases is almost 30,000 higher than it was a year ago. Decades of cuts and underinvestment in our criminal justice system have led us to this crisis where there aren’t enough judges, lawyers and court staff to deal with the huge volume of work.”
Former co-chair of the Law Society’s Criminal Law Committee Ian Kelcey said: “How can this be just or fair, to the defendant or his alleged victim? They can’t move on with their lives while the case hangs over them.”
Court closures
Evening Standard reports that the Harrow Crown Court will stay shut for an extra year, following the discovery of widespread RAAC.
President Nick Emmerson said: “The derelict court estate is a clear reflection of the state of our justice system due to decades of underinvestment. Courtroom closures add to the long delays faced by victims, witnesses and defendants.
“Floods, ceilings caving in, freezing temperatures, sewage, mould and asbestos were just part of the picture painted by our survey of solicitors about the chaotic state of the courts in which they work.
“Extended delays to re-open Harrow Crown Court will further impact efforts to tackle the large backlog of cases in London.”
Consumer protection review
Today’s Wills and Probate reports that the Solicitors Regulation Authority has launched a consumer protection review, in light of shifting risks in the sector.
Law Society chief executive Ian Jeffery said: “We welcome the launch of this review which is timely in light of the serious consequences of the collapse of Axiom Ince. It is right that consumer protection and the Compensation Fund are the two main points of focus.
“The potentially far reaching changes under review require careful consideration and full and meaningful consultation with the profession, with an opportunity to consider a range of options that best serve the needs of consumers.”
Rwanda policy
Independent mentions the Law Society’s response to the Rwanda asylum scheme, as the Prime Minister shook hands with Piers Morgan to bet that flights to Rwanda will begin before the election.
We say the Rwanda policy has “damaged the rule of law.”
Judicial review
Jersey Evening Post continues coverage of the Law Society’s landmark judicial review win against the government’s refusal to uplift criminal legal aid rates.
Requirements for foreign qualified lawyers
Legal English covers the Law Society’s consultation response to the SRA on new English language requirements for foreign qualified lawyers.
We responded with concerns that the proposals could be “overly restrictive.”
Also worth a read:
- New members of Civil Justice Council include two solicitors - Gazette
- Head of judiciary warns of risks to England’s reputation for legal services – FT (£)
- Lady Chief Justice states that judges who jailed Post Office branch managers should not be blamed for the Horizon IT scandal - Evening Standard
- Lady Chief Justice also insists that “listing in the ether” could be one way to speed up court timetables and cut the backlog - Gazette
- SQE1 will be available in Welsh from 1 September 2024 – Legal Cheek
- Opinion | Impact of social media on criminal cases – Solicitors Journal
- Why the UK is slow to regulate AI - Guardian
- Landmark sentencing guidance for judges highlights racial bias – Gazette
- Teen trapped in Gaza brings a legal challenge against UK government - Guardian