News & Views

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Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 5 May 2009

Garden Court Barrister defends Briton accused of drugs smuggling

Anna Morris defends British woman accused of smuggling heroin

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 5 May 2009

Issue 133 – 5th May 2009

The Latest Housing Law News Help for those facing repossession (1): the £20m additional funding announced in the Budget to help with homelessness prevention for occupiers facing repossession as a result of the recession will be distributed to local housing authorities this week by the Communities & Local Government Department. That follows the distribution of […]

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 5 May 2009

Issue 137 – 5 May 2009

Legal Bulletin No 137 – 5 May 2009 News The Home Office has reached the maximum issuing level for Japanese nationals for the period ending 31 December 2009 and will no longer be accepting new applications for this year. Japanese applicants may next apply from 1 January 2010 (more info) The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) […]

Garden Court Chambers | Thursday 30 April 2009

Peter Rowlands joins Garden Court

Peter Rowlands has joined Garden Court Chambers from 18 Red Lion Court , as of 29th April 2009.

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 28 April 2009

Three cleared of helping 7/7 bombers

Three men have been cleared of helping the July 7 bombers plan their attacks.

Garden Court Chambers | Tuesday 28 April 2009

Issue 62 – 28th April 2009

COURT OF APPEAL Equal Pay Slack & ors v Cumbria County Council [2009] EWCA Civ 293Although the contracts signed by two of the Claimants contained new terms and a statement that they superseded any previous contract of employment, the Claimants had worked for the Respondent continually without any breaks between the contracts and on the […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 27 April 2009

Issue 132 – 27th April 2009

The Latest Housing Law News Help for Home Owners (1): on 21 April 2009 the Government launched the new Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme operated by mortgage lenders. The intention is that some homeowners in temporary difficulty with their mortgages can reduce to paying as little as 30%of the monthly interest for a period of up […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 27 April 2009

Issue 136 – 27th April 2009

News The UKBA has announced new criteria which it will use to consider applications from former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas to settle in the UK. In response, campaigners for these former Gurkha soldiers seeking to retire in Britain have accused the Government of treachery, saying that the new guidelines would bar most of […]

Garden Court Chambers | Thursday 23 April 2009

Issue 135 – 23rd April 2009

News The UK Border Agency has published a new customer charter and customer strategy. The charter proposes to help service users, by committing the Agency to specific service and delivery standards. It also explains how service users can assist the Agency in dealing with applications. The UK Border Agency has also amended its instructions concerning […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 20 April 2009

Welwyn Garden City resident wins eviction appeal

A reformed drug addict has been saved from eviction despite claims that his presence made the area "a magnet for noisy and ill-behaved" youths. Lord Justice Toulson, sitting at London’s Civil Appeal Court on 1st April heard how a neighbour kept a diary of incidents, and told Welwyn and Hatfield Borough Council that she and […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 20 April 2009

Judge: siblings stay in home

Garden Court's Jan Luba QC wins Appeal Against Historic Council Eviction Attempt

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 20 April 2009

Issue 131 – 20th April 2009

The Latest Housing Law News Social housing allocation: new statutory guidance for local housing authorities on housing allocation has been issued by the Secretary of State in exercise of her powers under section 169 of the Housing Act 1996. The guidance is contained in the new CLG Circular 04/2009 Housing Allocations: Members of the Armed […]

Garden Court Chambers | Thursday 16 April 2009

Issue 134 – 16th April 2009

NEWS With effect from 9th April 2009 there will be no fee required for a Certificate of Approval in order to comply with House of Lords Judgment in Baiai v SSHD. Human Rights Watch called on the Sri Lankan government to stop violating the laws of war and to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Sri […]

Garden Court Chambers | Thursday 9 April 2009

Garden Court Welcomes Greenpeace: Pledges Support for “Tokyo Two”

Garden Court Chambers hosts reception for Greenpeace "Tokyo Two"

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 6 April 2009

Issue 130 – 6th April 2009

The Latest Housing Law News New landlords for council tenants: today (6 April 2009) many thousands of council tenants will find that they have a new local authority landlord. Some 44 local councils have been replaced by just nine new unitary authorities. Seven areas are affected. Five of those areas now have one unitary council […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 6 April 2009

Issue 61 – 6th April 2009

HIGH COURT Right to legal representation G, R (on the application of) v X School & Anor [2009] EWHC 504 (Admin)Given the gravity of the allegations made against the Claimant teacher (sexual impropriety with a person under 18 and abuse of position of trust), taken together with the very serious impact upon his future working […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 6 April 2009

Issue 133 – 6 April 2009

News The Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking in Human Beings took effect from 1 April 2009, creating minimum legal rights for victims. Of special interest to immigration lawyers is Article 10(1) addressing "Identification of the victims", which mandates that signatories shall staff provide its decision-making authorities with persons who are trained and qualified in […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 30 March 2009

Issue 129 – 30th March 2009

The Latest Housing Law News The Right to Housing: on 23 March 2009 the Ministry of Justice published a Green Paper containing proposals for a new Rights and Responsibilities Act. The paper re-states the Government’s belief that "…everyone should have access to a decent home at a price they can afford" (para 3.55). But the […]

Garden Court Chambers | Monday 30 March 2009

Issue 132 – 30th March 2009

News The UKBA has brought into force the Tier 4 (General) student programme for student applying on or after 31 March 2009. The new immigration rules can be found at paragraphs 245ZT – 245ZZD. New applicants must apply using the new Tier 4 (General) application forms and with reference to the new guidance. More than […]

Garden Court Chambers | Wednesday 25 March 2009

Inquest touching on the death of Mohammed Mudhir

An inquest jury sitting before HM Coroner for West Yorkshire, David Hinchliff, today concluded that a catalogue of serious failings at HMP Leeds caused or contributed to the death of 25 year old remand prisoner Mohammed Mudhir who was found hanged in the