Spring budget
The Times (£) and Gazette reflect on the Spring Budget and the justice system.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “We are pleased the criminal courts will be given a funding boost, with an aim of reducing unnecessary trial delays.
“However, we are disappointed the government has failed to pledge any funding for criminal legal aid.
“This is despite the Law Society’s recent High Court victory, where the court warned of bleak consequences for criminal justice if the government does not inject significant further sums of money into the system.”
Post Office scandal convictions
Coverage continues in City A.M., KOB 4, The Answer Seattle, City News Everywhere, Quartz and 24 other news outlets of the government announcing legislation to quash the convictions of sub-postmasters wrongly convicted in the Post Office Horizon Scandal.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “We all know that we need to speed up the process for quashing the wrongful convictions of the victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal.
“We recognise that the government has carefully considered the pressures facing our legal system and has set out some reasonable criteria. However, as always, the devil will be in the detail of such a complex proposal.
“An exceptional scheme such as this can only be justified by extraordinary circumstances. It cannot be treated as a precedent or justify further government intervention in the independence of our justice system.”
Our director of public affairs, David McNeill spoke about the Post Office legislation to Good Morning Britain (from 02:22).
Risk of miscarriages of justice
Our warning about the risks of miscarriages of justice due to the declining number of duty solicitors is covered in New Law Journal.
President Nick Emmerson said: “Duty solicitors work tirelessly around the clock providing essential legal advice to suspects at police stations.
“Their presence allows investigations to move forward quickly and they are critical to ensuring victims and defendants alike get justice.
“However, across England and Wales, duty solicitor schemes are in crisis because governments continue to undervalue their work.
“Some schemes have fewer than seven members, making providing 24/7 access to a duty solicitor challenging.
“Without investment, more solicitors will be forced out of the criminal defence profession, representation will become difficult to provide and there is a serious risk of miscarriages of justice.”
Probate delays
The Gazette looks at the delays in the probate system. Our written evidence on this issue to the Justice Select Committee is cited.
Also worth a read:
- The role of litigation funding for postmasters, and investors, as they fought to overturn wrongful convictions – FT (£)
- Jury discharged in the trial of a man who allegedly threatened to kill an immigration solicitor at Duncan Lewis – Gazette
- Justice will take years to recover from cuts, former Lord Chief Justice warns – Times (£)
- European Parliament passes legislation regulating artificial intelligence – Gazette
- What is the Post Office Horizon bill and why is it controversial? – Guardian