The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the system of “whole life orders”, whereby in England and Wales a mandatory life sentence may be imposed and the possibility of early release denied under section 269(4) of […]

Photo: Home Office

Only a matter of weeks ago, politicians were seriously discussing the possibility that the UK might need to withdraw from the […]

Yesterday I spoke to Paul Mendelle QC, joint head of chambers at 25 Bedford Row and former chair of the Criminal Bar Association, about the government’s proposals on criminal legal […]

By turns combative and conciliatory, justice minister Lord McNally gave a mercurial performance, defending the government’s criminal legal aid proposals on Tuesday evening in front of an audience of lawyers at a “Legal […]

It’s a year since Julian Assange’s extraordinary decision to seek refuge in Ecuador’s London embassy. What should be done about him?

The government has three broad options: it can try to de-recognise Ecuador’s […]

Here’s another speech from Tuesday’s legal aid demonstration – this time from Labour’s shadow justice minister, Andy Slaughter.

I think those interested in the debate about legal aid are not only entitled to, […]

Geoffrey Robertson’s was another impressive speech today. He reminded us of the days of the “dock brief” and of what Stephen Sedley has called the “great sleep” of public law in the […]

Michael Fordham QC was I think the star of today’s “Saving Justice” demo outside the Ministry of Justice. His speech was both angry and funny – he called the Ministry of Justice […]

Here’s Dinah Rose’s speech at the “Save Justice” demonstration in front of the Ministry of Justice this afternoon. She began with a “declaration of a lack of interest” as someone who’s […]

Even I’m concerned about Chris Grayling’s proposals for criminal legal aid. When the government announced cuts to civil legal aid, I broadly backed them, in contrast to most lawyers. Now, the government’s proposing some further cuts to civil […]