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jamesrossiter.bsky.social
Criminal justice, environment and circular economy expert. Sunrise chaser and storm swimmer. Personal comments
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Rape trial delays worsen as barristers’ pay gap widens As more sexual offence trials are postponed because no prosecution barrister is available, experts blame a pay disparity between prosecution and defence lawyers @thetimes.com Times Law www.thetimes.com/article/aa05...

Decision Time Many of those who remain at the Criminal Bar are waiting until April to see what the joined-up consequences of the Leveson and Gauke Reviews cause the Treasury to provide to keep the Criminal Justice System alive and functioning. We are a cost-effective and vital part of that. Chair MM

Defence and CPS Fees Chair’s message That work is ongoing but work that remains and continues to be a constant plea from the CBA to the CPS is that of parity of fees. Prosecutors must be paid the same for conducting a criminal trial as the defence.

The long hand of the law Or With an outstretched hand

Listening
 
In April 2022 the Justice Select Committee recommended that the Crown Court should sit a minimum of 110,000 sitting days for a minimum of five years to reduce the backlog which had built up of 60,000 cases.
 Chair’s message Mary Prior KC

Brexit Britain - a regional city near you

Well that was a cold start today - more of an economic and social indicator? Forever in hope …

🚨 My exclusive splash for @inews.co.uk: ⚖️ The temporary Nightingale courts that were opened in hotels and conference centres to hear delayed trials during the pandemic are set to be kept open for a sixth year, as the criminal justice backlog crisis continues to worsen inews.co.uk/news/crime/c...

We are now working with the Minister of State (Ministry of Justice) Sarah Sackman and the Ministry of Justice to resolve the necessary percentage increase to all defence fees, not limited to increases in RASSO cases Time is of the essence. Chair’s Message.

Christmas court quiz? How much does the Supreme Court café charge for a flat white coffee A £1.80 B £2.80 C £3.80 Can you claim said coffee as a legitimate disbursement under legal aid A yes B no C yes but no but yes If C do Crown Courts charge more? A yes B obviously yes C if A or B where?

Orange warm up for winter solstice

Chair MPKC We are committed to working with the Government to ensure that we play our part, together with the Bar Council, in making the best use of available resources and in ensuring that Criminal Barristers have the same percentage increase in our fees This must be a priority at the start of 2025

Chair Mary Prior KC We are relieved that the Government has found the budget for an extra 2000 Crown Court sitting days for the next few months. It will be a bitter pill for victims and those accused of crime who have already had their trials adjourned until 2026, 2027 or 2028 because of the cuts…

On Monday 35% of the largestCrown Court in England will be Empty 7 out of 20 court rooms at Snaresbrook no hearings at all

Sun day

And @bsky.app didn’t take long to be infected with the same Looney tune fanzine fantasists by proxy as X with the antihero status of Mr LM .

Man, 88, passes grade 8 piano with distinction, 67 years after taking grade 7

Goodbye Sir Humphrey

Four years ago, Cavan Medlock, a self-confessed Nazi sympathiser, chose his target, an immigration solicitor, after seeing his name in the Daily Mail & after weeks of ministers briefing against "activist lawyers". An important & under-reported terrorism case: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The haunt of Christmas fair past

Justice isn’t working. The Guardian view on the courts in crisis: long waits are a route to injustice @theguardian.com Editorial Delayed trials don’t get enough attention. But they are harmful both to individuals and society www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Hundreds of trials derailed by failure to get defendants to court on time | UK criminal justice | The Guardian @theguardian.com @michaelgoodier.bsky.social and Matthew Weaver www.theguardian.com/law/2024/dec...

www.theguardian.com/law/2024/dec...

London between two lamps

The crisis in the courts in England and Wales: how did we get here? | UK criminal justice | The Guardian @theguardian.com @michaelgoodier.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/law/2024/dec...

Our thanks to @theguardian.com Emily Dugan for taking the time and trouble to visit Crown Courts across the country, having face-to-face conversations with Criminal Barristers working on back-to-back trials to prop up a criminal justice system on its knees www.theguardian.com/law/2024/dec...

Rape trials collapse as victims abandon cases amid long court delays Courts logjam in England and Wales contributes to doubling in five years of victims pulling out of prosecutions ‘I’ve had four torturous years’: child abuse victims speak out @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/law/2024/dec...

m.youtube.com/watch?v=CXB_...

The removal of the right to jury trial. Reducing the current backlog of cases in the Crown Court and ensuring that it does not continue to increase will take time and substantial financial investment. Statement attached contained in Chair’s Monday Message

Perspective

waste making an appearance at #COP29 targeting methane emissions. Need to support development of sanitary landfills in developing countries, using methane as a local power source but let’s not forget the 2.5B tons of food wasted globally each year #feedtheworld

With a personal thanks to @rachelsylvester.bsky.social for taking the time to listen, watch and report the unvarnished humanity

If you read one article on the state of the criminal justice system, this is it by @rachelsylvester.bsky.social @thetimes.com Rachel Sylvester is chairwoman of the Times Crime and Justice Commission www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...

Cuts have consequences Budget cuts decided in September by @MoJGovUK under this new govt imposed on courts from 8 October 2024 pulling court room days pre booked for recorders 404 nationally 140 in London 185 North West 79 South West + 282 vacancies pulled (We discover via papers No one consults)

When it’s 0c outside, a misty 6C on top and 3C under, it’s little wonder at 730am you are on your own for a 10minute swim. Tomorrow 5C?

Thank you - all of you for help in the robing rooms this week and last The tears of the guilty defendant said it all only counsel, a judge, his family and me witnessed avoided prison, for now, “by a hair’s breadth”, as HHJ H declared 12 months suspended 180 hours unpaid community service Hope…

It’s not unusual Today 330pm To a robing room of a large Crown Court some criminal barristers are fine tuning cases due back in court In pops a court clerk “can anyone defend please a bench warrant” (to arrest someone for breaching a court order) “also can anyone prosecute?” The judge awaits 🧵

It’s not unusual Today 330pm To a robing room of a large Crown Court some criminal barristers are fine tuning cases due back in court In pops a court clerk “can anyone defend please a bench warrant” (to arrest someone for breaching a court order) “also can anyone prosecute?” The judge awaits 🧵