Lawyer news

• The Guardian view on Conservative tax plans: this law would be an ass | Editorial

  29-04-2015 20:43
  
  Putting aspirations into law to embarrass opponents is a waste of time and an abuse of the political processThe Conservative party trades on its responsible approach to finance. “With economic instability abroad, now is worst time to vote for instability at home,” George Osborne tweeted today as the US economy stalled. Yet the so called five-year tax lock which the Tory party unveiled today is the very opposite of responsible. It generates a built-in element of instability if the economy is
  
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• The Guardian view on Indonesia’s executions: cruel and unnecessary | Editorial

  29-04-2015 20:42
  
  Death penalty abolition is spreading around the world. It is vital to maintain global pressure on all those who execute their citizensWe have heard a great deal about Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran: their conviction for drug trafficking as members of the “Bali Nine”; their repentance during long years in jail; and this week their execution in Indonesia by firing squad despite an international outcry.Some may chafe at what can look like the west’s selective concern. Few know the names of
  
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• Supreme court asks if execution drugs are like being 'burned alive at the stake'

  29-04-2015 20:40
  
  In Glossip v Gross justice Elena Kagan cites uncertainty that midazolam puts inmates under enough to avoid feeling sudden infliction of pain from other drugsThe prospect of death row inmates being “burned alive at the stake from inside” in the absence of effective anesthesia was invoked at the US supreme court on Wednesday as the justices wrestled with the nationwide crisis caused by the European-led boycott of lethal injection drugs.
  Anger spilled from the nine justices from both sides of t
  
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• Baltimore residents warn 'insane' legal crackdown could spark further unrest

  29-04-2015 20:18
  
  Republican governor extends 24-hour detention-without-charge limit ‘to protect public safety’ while courts impose sky-high bail bonds for minor offencesBaltimore’s under-fire criminal justice system risked antagonising its already seething local community on Wednesday by suspending legal procedures and imposing bail bonds of up to half a million dollars on the city’s most impoverished residents.
  In one especially stark case, a 19-year-old charged with eight offences allegedly committed o
  
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• Baltimore imposes bail bonds of half a million dollars in legal crackdown

  29-04-2015 20:18
  
  Republican governor extends 24-hour detention-without-charge limit ‘to protect public safety’ while courts impose sky-high bail bonds for minor offencesBaltimore’s under-fire criminal justice system risked antagonising its already seething local community on Wednesday by suspending legal procedures and imposing bail bonds of up to half a million dollars on the city’s most impoverished residents.
  In one especially stark case, a 19-year-old charged with eight offences allegedly committed o
  
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• Supreme court rules that judges cannot solicit campaign cash

  29-04-2015 19:58
  
  Ruling affects 30 states that elect state and local judges although Justice Scalia’s minority opinion denounces ‘wildly disproportionate restriction on free speech’The supreme court ruled on Wednesday that states may limit candidates for elected state and local judgeships from making a personal appeal for campaign contributions.The justices’ 5-4 ruling means in 30 states that elect state and local judges, restrictions on judicial candidates and their campaign solicitations can remain in
  
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• ​GCHQ broke the law, ordered to destroy stolen documents by UK tribunal - RT

  29-04-2015 18:45
  
  RT
  ​GCHQ broke the law, ordered to destroy stolen documents by UK tribunal
  RT
  In an historic ruling, a British intelligence tribunal has ordered UK spy agency GCHQ to destroy communications it collected unlawfully from Libyan dissident Sami al-Saadi. Saadi's legal representatives say it is the first time in its 15-year history ...en meer »
  
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• Illegal surveillance: GCHQ's 'neither confirm nor deny' a thing of the past

  29-04-2015 18:35
  
  In ruling a former Libyan dissident was illegally spied on, Investigatory Powers Tribunal was able to preserve national security while refusing GCHQ’s request The Investigatory Powers Tribunal is behaving more and more like a real court. It rightly refused what was seen as a pretty desperate plea by GCHQ at a hearing last month not to undermine the intelligence services’ cherished “neither-confirm-nor-deny” (NCND) policy. But the IPT also took care to preserve national security by not al
  
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• Italy's Renzi wins first confidence vote on electoral law - Yahoo News UK

  29-04-2015 17:53
  
  Yahoo News UK
  Italy's Renzi wins first confidence vote on electoral law
  Yahoo News UK
  Reuters/Reuters - Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi addresses a news conference after the European Union leaders summit in Brussels April 23, 2015. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir. By Roberto Landucci. ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi ...en meer »
  
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• Gezi Park protest trial: Turkish court acquits all 26 defendants

  29-04-2015 17:32
  
  Prosecutions of Taksim Solidarity Platform activists after 2013 Istanbul demonstrations condemned as attempt to silence opposition to governmentA Turkish court has acquitted all 26 defendants on trial for their involvement in the Gezi protests in the summer of 2013.Most of the defendants are members of the Taksim Solidarity Platform, an umbrella group of activists that was at the forefront of the Gezi Park demonstrations, arguably the largest wave of protests in recent Turkish history and one of
  
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• Government must take ‘immediate action’ on air pollution

  29-04-2015 16:27 via lawgazette.co.uk
  
  UK’s air quality plan in breach of EU directive. 
  
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• Basques safe in Iceland as district repeals decree to kill them on sight

  29-04-2015 16:18
  
  Westfjords district commissioner invites Basques to ceremony to revoke 1615 law that sparked massacre known as Slaying of the SpaniardsBasques wanting to visit the dramatic fjords of north-western Iceland need no longer hesitate after the district of Westfjords repealed a 400-year-old decree to kill any Basque caught in the area on sight.“The decision to do away with the decree was more symbolic than anything else,” said Westfjords district commissioner Jonas Gudmundsson. “We have laws, of
  
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• College rapists should not be able to transfer schools to skip consequences | Jessica Valenti

  29-04-2015 16:15
  
  Privacy laws for students mean young men accused of rape don’t have to disclose the complaint to their new school. This just leads to new victims in new places
  A bit of good news for college rapists: if you’ve been accused of sexual assault and don’t feel like sticking around to deal with the consequences on campus, you can simply transfer schools and no one will be the wiser. Thanks to a privacy law for students, young men accused of rape don’t even have to disclose the complaint to the
  
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• Supreme Court’s sex shop ruling good news for SRA

  29-04-2015 15:50 via lawgazette.co.uk
  
  Supreme Court keeps case open but establishes principle that regulatory authorities can spend fees more widely.
  
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• France could ease ban on gay men giving blood after ECJ ruling

  29-04-2015 15:27
  
  European court of justice ruling suggests identifying individuals involved in high-risk behaviour rather than excluding all gay and bisexual menFrance could loosen its ban on gay men giving blood after the European court of justice ruled in favour of adopting less restrictive measures than excluding all gay men who have ever had sex.France’s ban on gay men giving blood has been criticised by rights groups as discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Any potential male blood donor in
  
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• European court of justice rules against excluding gay male blood donors

  29-04-2015 15:27
  
  The ruling in the case of Geoffrey Léger suggests identifying individuals involved in high-risk behaviour rather than excluding all gay and bisexual menFrance could loosen its ban on gay men giving blood after the European court of justice ruled in favour of adopting less restrictive measures than simply excluding all gay men who had ever had sex.France’s ban on gay men giving blood has been criticised by rights’ groups as discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Any potential m
  
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• Solicitor among the first bar entities authorised

  29-04-2015 14:22 via lawgazette.co.uk
  
  Mark Johnson cites ’proportionate’ level of regulation as factor in moving away from SRA regime.
  
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• 'It's problematic': inventor of US lethal injection reveals death penalty doubts

  29-04-2015 14:03
  
  Dr Jay Chapman sought to develop a more humane method of execution but miscarriages of justice leave him ambivalent about capital punishmentDr Jay Chapman, the pathologist who invented the lethal injection that has been the dominant execution protocol in the US for 40 years, says he has growing doubts about the death penalty in the wake of mounting evidence of wrongful convictions.Chapman, 75, said that he had revised his view of capital punishment despite having been the architect of the lethal
  
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• The UK election spells the end for the biggest 'law' in political science - Democratic Audit UK

  29-04-2015 14:02
  
  Democratic Audit UK
  The UK election spells the end for the biggest 'law' in political science
  Democratic Audit UK
  Voters are again looking beyond the traditional two-party system and look set to put paid to a famous proposition of political science, 'Duverger's Law', writes Democratic Audit UK Director Patrick Dunleavy. A multicolour politics? (Credit: @Doug88888 ...en meer »
  
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• Camping out to support same-sex marriage: 'There were some tears … It was truly inspiring' – video

  29-04-2015 13:56
  
  Dozens of people spent days in line to witness the beginning of the US supreme court's historic hearings on same-sex marriage. Law students Wyatt Fore and Abbye Klamann, who had been camping for three days when the Guardian met them, were among them.The pair came to Washington DC from Ann Arbor, Michigan – one of the states that has a case being considered by the court – where they have followed the plaintiffs' case since the beginning. The Guardian joined them during their final preparation
  
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• Child abuse inquiry judge to investigate Lord Janner allegations

  29-04-2015 13:49
  
  Lowell Goddard will obtain evidence from Labour peer’s alleged victims and could call the 86-year-old to give evidence in personA high court judge is to investigate whether child sexual abuse allegations against Lord Janner were the subject of an establishment cover-up. Related: Lord Janner will not face trial over abuse claimsRelated: New Zealand high court judge named as new chair of child abuse inquiryContinue reading...
  
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• UPDATE 1-UK's Cameron pledges new law to prevent tax hikes, election rivals ... - Reuters

  29-04-2015 13:47
  Livemint
  UPDATE 1-UK's Cameron pledges new law to prevent tax hikes, election rivals ...
  Reuters
  ... * Cameron says will enshrine tax pledge in new law. * LibDems, likely coalition partners, slam move. * Labour says Conservatives would cut tax credits. * Main parties seeking to break deadlock in polls (Adds quotes, reaction). By Andrew Osborn and ...
  UK election: Cameron pledges to enshrine 5-year tax freeze in lawLivemint
  UK's Cameron pledges new law to prevent tax hikes, election
  
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• PEP soars 17% at Fladgate

  29-04-2015 13:18 via lawgazette.co.uk
  
  London firm fires starting gun on what it expected to be a bullish annual results season.
  
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• From New York to Beijing, where in the world can you still smoke in a bar?

  29-04-2015 12:54
  
  New Orleans has become the latest city to introduce a smoking ban – which got us wondering: where are you still allowed to light up freely? We’ve reached the point where it seems quicker to count the cities that actually let people smoke in their bars than the ones where it is banned. Even the sybaritic city of New Orleans finally outlawed smoking last week. But when you look into it (as determined smokers no doubt have), there are still many few bars and cafes around the world – and even
  
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• UK election: Cameron pledges to enshrine 5-year tax freeze in law - Livemint

  29-04-2015 12:31
  
  Livemint
  UK election: Cameron pledges to enshrine 5-year tax freeze in law
  Livemint
  In an effort to break through, Cameron is spending the week pushing a series of economic messages. Photo: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg. London: David Cameron will promise to enshrine some of his tax pledges in law, a reflection of both the tightness of next ...
  UK's Cameron pledges new law to prevent tax hikes, election rivals see gimmickDaily Mail
  Cameron pledges new law to prevent tax hikesgulfnews.com
  UPDA
  
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• As supreme court debates lethal injection its inventor reveals death penalty doubts

  29-04-2015 12:00
  
  Dr Jay Chapman sought to develop a more humane method of execution but miscarriages of justice leave him ambivalent about capital punishmentDr Jay Chapman, the pathologist who invented the lethal injection that has been the dominant execution protocol in the US for 40 years, says he has growing doubts about the death penalty in the wake of mounting evidence of wrongful convictions.Chapman, 75, said that he had revised his view of capital punishment despite having been the architect of the lethal
  
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• 'It's problematic': lethal injection inventor reveals death penalty doubts

  29-04-2015 12:00
  
  Dr Jay Chapman sought to develop a more humane method of execution but miscarriages of justice leave him ambivalent about capital punishmentDr Jay Chapman, the pathologist who invented the lethal injection that has been the dominant execution protocol in the US for 40 years, says he has growing doubts about the death penalty in the wake of mounting evidence of wrongful convictions.Chapman, 75, said that he had revised his view of capital punishment despite having been the architect of the lethal
  
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• Jimmy Savile carried out 46 sexual assaults at Surrey girls’ school, say police

  29-04-2015 11:45
  
  Disgraced ex-Top of the Pops presenter abused 22 pupils and one visitor during visits to school for emotionally disturbed teenagers in 1970s
  Jimmy Savile carried out 46 sexual assaults on 22 pupils and one visitor to Duncroft approved school in Staines, Surrey police have said.The disgraced former Top of the Pops presenter carried out a range of abuse on pupils during visits to the school for emotionally disturbed teenage girls in the 1970s. Continue reading...
  
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• Pupillages fall as work at bar shrinks

  29-04-2015 11:04 via lawgazette.co.uk
  
  The number of ‘first-six’ pupillages offered in 2013-14 fell to 397, an 8% drop since 2009/10, according to statistics from the bar regulator.
  
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• New research reveals most generous law firm employers as UK top 30 spend up ... - Legal Week

  29-04-2015 10:45
  
  Legal Week
  New research reveals most generous law firm employers as UK top 30 spend up ...
  Legal Week
  Linklaters has the highest average costs per employee across the top 30 UK law firms, paying out almost £20,000 more on staff than the next highest firm, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The 4,346 members of staff at Linklaters were paid an average of ...
  
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• UK intelligence tribunal to rule on surveillance case

  29-04-2015 09:08
  
  Judgment could prove decisive in case involving Libyan dissident Abdel Hakim Belhaj, returned to Gaddafi regime in UK-US rendition operationA tribunal that hears complaints against the UK intelligence services is due to rule in a major state surveillance case on the confidentiality of conversations between lawyers and their clients.
  The judgment at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) could be a decisive moment in the protracted courtroom manoeuvres involving the government and legal advisers
  
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• What will the election mean for the UK's public services?

  29-04-2015 08:00
  
  With a hung parliament likely, our experts analyse key pledges, from health to housing, by those who may form the next government Related: Labour pulls ahead of Tories on NHSRelated: Britain's first titan-sized prison gets green lightRelated: Conservative manifesto pledges: what the experts sayRelated: What the 2015 UK party manifesto pledges would mean for councilsRelated: Housing policies in the general election – what do the experts think?Continue reading...
  
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• The supreme court arguments on gay marriage, annotated for non-lawyers

  29-04-2015 01:12
  
  We read between the lines of history in the making – and talk to leading constitutional law experts – so you don’t have toReading the tea leaves: legal analysis and inside the courtRuth Bader Ginsburg eviscerates gay marriage opponentsContinue reading...
  
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• Ruth Bader Ginsburg eviscerates same-sex marriage opponents in court

  29-04-2015 00:21
  
  At 92, the supreme court justice cut through the question of gay marriage’s constitutionality in a way that seemed to move even her most conservative peersAt a turning point in history where most of the male members of the US supreme court seemed unsure which way to turn, one justice stood out during Tuesday’s hearing on the constitutionality of gay marriage for her spatial awareness.Ruth Bader Ginsburg has long been a liberal champion – dubbed ‘Notorious RBG’ by her younger fans – f
  
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