Housing Law News Social housing rent arrears: following the conclusion of a consultation exercise, the Protection from Eviction (Bedroom Tax) (Scotland) Bill has been put before Scottish Parliament. It would seek to prevent possession for rent arrears caused by the impact of the ‘bedroom tax’. For a summary of the consultation responses, click here. For […]
Immigration Law News The ‘Dublin III’ Regulations (Regulation (EU) No. 604/2013) came into force on 1 January 2014. To read more, click here. The Immigration (European Economic Area) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2013 (SI.No.3032/2013), which amends the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006, substantially came into force on 1 January 2014. The Amendment Regulations inter […]
Leslie Thomas has been named as a leading campaigner in The Lawyer magazine’s Hot 100 list. Leslie is recognised for the work he does regarding deaths in custody and at the hands of the police.
Employment Law News Low-paid government workers go to law over pay freeze About 250 workers in the House of Commons will launch legal action this month in an attempt to show that the 2011 decision by Chancellor George Osborne to scrap their automatic annual pay increases, amounted to a breach of their contracts of employment. […]
Eleven protestors have been acquitted of all charges over their roles in the Balcombe anti-fracking protests of last summer. The defendants were represented by Shahida Begum and Stephen Knight of Garden Court Chambers.
Housing Law News Housing & anti-social behaviour: on 8 January 2014 the House of Lords carried an amendment to Clause 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour Bill which will draw a distinction between a lower threshold for action on anti-social behaviour in the housing context and a higher threshold for intervention in other contexts. To read […]
On 8 January 2014, the jury at the inquest into the death of Mark Duggan, who was shot by police in August 2011, reached its conclusion. Leslie Thomas represented the loved ones of Mr Duggan.
Today, for the first time in 800 years, lawyers publicly protested and staged a half-day walkout. Why? The short answer is that barristers walked out of court this morning to prevent the Government walking all over public justice.
Housing Law News Social housing allocation: on 31 December 2013 the UK Government issued a new supplementary set of statutory guidance for councils in England on social housing allocations and lettings. It suggests greater emphasis on priority for local applicants and members of the armed forces who need "and deserve" social housing. It encourages councils […]
Following an inquest at Leicester Coroner’s Court, the coroner has been critical of the care that the deceased received in hospital prior to his death. Terry McGuinness represented the boy’s family.
Following a four-week inquest, a jury has decided that Robert Edwards died as a result of inadequate care provided by officers in Bury St Edmunds police station, and in a healthcare assessment provided by a G4S contractor.
The Crime Team at Garden Court Chambers has announced today that they will not be attending any criminal court on the morning of Monday 6 January 2014 in protest against attacks by the Ministry of Justice on legal aid and access to justice.
Immigration Law News The Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights has warned that the new Immigration Bill’s proposed new appeal rights have serious implications for access for justice. To read more, click here. The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has published his Annual Report for 2012/13. For more information, click here. The Home […]
Permission has been granted by the Court of Appeal to a Zambrano carer in an income support appeal against the Upper Tribunal. The woman was represented by Stephen Knafler QC and Desmond Rutledge.
YOUR EDITOR: Garden Court Chambers is proud to announce that the current Editor of this Bulletin, Jan Luba QC, has been included in the new list of the Top 100 QCs published last week. For more details, click here. He has additionally been included in the new list of the UK’s Best Lawyers. For details, […]
Immigration Law News The UK has been heavily criticised by Amnesty International for failing to resettle vulnerable Syrian refugees. To read further, click here. Under a new habitual residence test, income-related benefits are to be harder for European Union migrants to obtain as they face a string of 100 questions, including the reasons they were […]
The High Court has ordered the release of a Somali national, ruling his immigration detention unlawful. The man was represented at the trial by Greg Ó Ceallaigh.
A man who has served 17 years of a life sentence for attempted rape has had his conviction quashed at the Court of Appeal. Peter Wilcock QC demonstrated that the conviction was unsafe after fresh DNA evidence came to light.
A jury has ruled that the police used unreasonable force when they set a police dog on a 17-year-old man. The man was represented by Stephen Simblet.
Garden Court's Crime Team will not be accepting VHCCs at the new rates of pay and will be joining the CBA's day of action on 6 January.
