Barbara Rich
@barbararich.bsky.social
Barrister, mediator (England + Wales) https://www.5sblaw.com/our-people/barbara-rich/ law of inheritance, trusts, mental incapacity + interested in legal history, public understanding of law, crowdfunding. Londoner. https://bleakhouserevisited.substack.com
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Barbara Rich
@barbararich.bsky.social
· Jan 7
Bleak House Revisited | Substack
Barbara Rich
English law, legal history, literature, London. Click to read Bleak House Revisited, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
bleakhouserevisited.substack.com
I’m posting a bit more actively in 2025, but my general intention is to write more for my (free) Substack, Bleak House Revisited bleakhouserevisited.substack.com than on social media. I’ve written to date on the Assisted Dying Bill, and on the WASPI campaign. My next post will be on forged wills
Quite appallingly, the shadow Lord Chancellor and shadow Secretary of State for Justice has posted to X an inaccurate and misleading statement about the Court of Appeal’s judgment, mistakenly quoting and describing paragraph 114 of the judgment it overruled, not the Court of Appeal’s own reasoning
September 2, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Quite appallingly, the shadow Lord Chancellor and shadow Secretary of State for Justice has posted to X an inaccurate and misleading statement about the Court of Appeal’s judgment, mistakenly quoting and describing paragraph 114 of the judgment it overruled, not the Court of Appeal’s own reasoning
Reposted by Barbara Rich
Could I take this opportunity to suggest to all my followers that they follow Barbara? She comes from a different political perspective to me but she is always worth hearing even when (especially when) we disagree.
Full judgment in appeal on Epping Bell hotel interim injunction now published www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk
September 1, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Could I take this opportunity to suggest to all my followers that they follow Barbara? She comes from a different political perspective to me but she is always worth hearing even when (especially when) we disagree.
A little excursion into legal history. The effigy of Sir William Gascoigne, Henry IV’s Lord Chancellor, who died in 1419, and his first wife, and a memorial to Sir Thomas Denison, an 18th century judge of the King’s Bench Division, All Saints’ Church, Harewood, Yorkshire
September 1, 2025 at 4:40 PM
A little excursion into legal history. The effigy of Sir William Gascoigne, Henry IV’s Lord Chancellor, who died in 1419, and his first wife, and a memorial to Sir Thomas Denison, an 18th century judge of the King’s Bench Division, All Saints’ Church, Harewood, Yorkshire
Full judgment in appeal on Epping Bell hotel interim injunction now published www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk
September 1, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Full judgment in appeal on Epping Bell hotel interim injunction now published www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
Two important omissions from this story
The reporting barrister, Steven Barrett, is associated with “Lawyers for Borders” who encourage and assist local authorities seeking these injunctions
Complaints about judicial case management decisions are outside the remit of the conduct body
The reporting barrister, Steven Barrett, is associated with “Lawyers for Borders” who encourage and assist local authorities seeking these injunctions
Complaints about judicial case management decisions are outside the remit of the conduct body
September 1, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Two important omissions from this story
The reporting barrister, Steven Barrett, is associated with “Lawyers for Borders” who encourage and assist local authorities seeking these injunctions
Complaints about judicial case management decisions are outside the remit of the conduct body
The reporting barrister, Steven Barrett, is associated with “Lawyers for Borders” who encourage and assist local authorities seeking these injunctions
Complaints about judicial case management decisions are outside the remit of the conduct body
Reposted by Barbara Rich
This is really excellent on our understandings of - and the reality of - intergenerational inequality.
My latest, exploring with numbers how the millennial household budget is basically incomprehensible to retired boomers.
WASPInomics and the magic avocado tree
Why boomers struggle to make sense of the millennial world.
open.substack.com
July 30, 2025 at 7:54 AM
This is really excellent on our understandings of - and the reality of - intergenerational inequality.
Not tired of London, not tired of life
July 29, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Not tired of London, not tired of life
Farah Damji, the offender who the judge described as having spent her life “harming others” “, has relied on the use of aliases and on the willingness of people to trust appearances and support social justice campaigns to launder her reputation over and over again. Lawyers and judges - be warned
Personal news, which I rarely share here.
My stalker was sentenced to 6 years for a "campaign of psychological cruelty". She has a "long and truly appalling" criminal record, and has spent her life "harming others".
My deepest thanks to everyone who has supported me through this ordeal.
My stalker was sentenced to 6 years for a "campaign of psychological cruelty". She has a "long and truly appalling" criminal record, and has spent her life "harming others".
My deepest thanks to everyone who has supported me through this ordeal.
July 16, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Farah Damji, the offender who the judge described as having spent her life “harming others” “, has relied on the use of aliases and on the willingness of people to trust appearances and support social justice campaigns to launder her reputation over and over again. Lawyers and judges - be warned
Sentencing remarks or HHJ Joanna Greenberg KC in R v Farah Damji. A sentence of six years immediate custody for various offences including “psychological torture” of her victim www.judiciary.uk/judgments/r-...
R -v- Farah Damji - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
In the Crown Court at Wood Green Crown Court 11 July 2025 Sentencing remarks of HHJ Joanna Greenberg KC Between: R-v-Farah Damji
www.judiciary.uk
July 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Sentencing remarks or HHJ Joanna Greenberg KC in R v Farah Damji. A sentence of six years immediate custody for various offences including “psychological torture” of her victim www.judiciary.uk/judgments/r-...
Reposted by Barbara Rich
This is the most compelling, closely-argued case against the Assisted Dying Bill that I’ve read.
Tomorrow, the Assisted Dying Bill returns to the Commons chamber.
It is not safe to become law and I will vote against it.
Here's why 👇
It is not safe to become law and I will vote against it.
Here's why 👇
May 15, 2025 at 6:39 PM
This is the most compelling, closely-argued case against the Assisted Dying Bill that I’ve read.
A plea for a sense of proportion. Criminal damage is criminal damage. Guilty defendants shouldn’t be sentenced as if the inanimate objects they’ve damaged or destroyed had human qualities and had read out their victim impact statements in court
May 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A plea for a sense of proportion. Criminal damage is criminal damage. Guilty defendants shouldn’t be sentenced as if the inanimate objects they’ve damaged or destroyed had human qualities and had read out their victim impact statements in court
Reposted by Barbara Rich
Next Friday (16 May) the #AssistedDying bill returns to the House of Commons chamber. So we sat down with @kimleadbeatermp.bsky.social to discuss the state of play with the Bill and what further amendments she thinks are still needed.
🎧 Tune in now: buff.ly/GAExxWv
🎧 Tune in now: buff.ly/GAExxWv
May 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Next Friday (16 May) the #AssistedDying bill returns to the House of Commons chamber. So we sat down with @kimleadbeatermp.bsky.social to discuss the state of play with the Bill and what further amendments she thinks are still needed.
🎧 Tune in now: buff.ly/GAExxWv
🎧 Tune in now: buff.ly/GAExxWv
Dr Nitschke’s working on a couple’s Sarco pod. It sounds like a grim reaper version of a couple’s spa day: scented candles, plinky-plink music, fluffy towels, massage a deux, exfoliation, a slice of cucumber over the eyes, hold hands, and press the red button for extinction
"In the pod, there’s a red button. This is what you’d press to die. What a crazy way to go, is all I can think. Nitschke’s face looms outside the plastic windows"
A fantastic piece by @emilylawford.bsky.social from our new issue @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/a-good...
A fantastic piece by @emilylawford.bsky.social from our new issue @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/a-good...
My appointment with Dr Death
Philip Nitschke facilitated the world’s first legal assisted suicides in the 1990s. But is he the best advocate for the cause he so believes in?
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
May 9, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Dr Nitschke’s working on a couple’s Sarco pod. It sounds like a grim reaper version of a couple’s spa day: scented candles, plinky-plink music, fluffy towels, massage a deux, exfoliation, a slice of cucumber over the eyes, hold hands, and press the red button for extinction
Reposted by Barbara Rich
On #VEDay80 a small handful of mudlarked artefacts found on the foreshore, a timely and poignant reminder today that the Thames was at war too. Military buttons, cap badges, collar badges, anti-aircraft shrapnel, bullet fragments (no longer live.) London suffered huge losses during the Blitz and 1/
May 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
On #VEDay80 a small handful of mudlarked artefacts found on the foreshore, a timely and poignant reminder today that the Thames was at war too. Military buttons, cap badges, collar badges, anti-aircraft shrapnel, bullet fragments (no longer live.) London suffered huge losses during the Blitz and 1/
Justice has been done with unanimous guilty verdicts in this case. I was subjected to vicious abuse and attempts to harm my professional reputation by Damji in 2021 when I questioned her close involvement in a project supported by some distinguished women lawyers www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Stalker, 58, harassed 'ex-British ambassador she met online'
Farah Damji, 58, met Nigel Gould-Davies in Bumble in July 2023 and was later diagnosed with stage three breast cancer .
www.dailymail.co.uk
May 8, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Justice has been done with unanimous guilty verdicts in this case. I was subjected to vicious abuse and attempts to harm my professional reputation by Damji in 2021 when I questioned her close involvement in a project supported by some distinguished women lawyers www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
I’m very sad to read of Terry Etherton’s death. He was a man of great intellectual rigour and energy but also kindness, determination and commitment to public service. Do read the speech in Joshua’s article. It’s trenchant and eloquent and a long way from the usual judicial retirement pabulum
Lord Etherton GBE, a distinguished appeal judge and master of the rolls from 2016 until his retirement at the beginning of 2021, died last night. He was 73.
rozenberg.substack.com/p/terry-ethe...
rozenberg.substack.com/p/terry-ethe...
Terry Etherton
Former master of the rolls dies at 73
rozenberg.substack.com
May 8, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I’m very sad to read of Terry Etherton’s death. He was a man of great intellectual rigour and energy but also kindness, determination and commitment to public service. Do read the speech in Joshua’s article. It’s trenchant and eloquent and a long way from the usual judicial retirement pabulum
At least the judges of the UK Supreme Court forbear from the vanity of auctioning invitations to dinner with themselves for charity
April 30, 2025 at 4:28 PM
At least the judges of the UK Supreme Court forbear from the vanity of auctioning invitations to dinner with themselves for charity
I don’t rate either Gina Miller or Sandi Toskvig as candidates for Chancellor of Cambridge University and will not vote for either of them. I would like to see an outstanding woman Cambridge graduate like our former ambassador to the USA, Karen Pierce, come forward as a candidate for the role
While Oxford elected Lord Hague of Richmond, Cambridge will fight it out between Gina Miller and the host of QI.
April 30, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I don’t rate either Gina Miller or Sandi Toskvig as candidates for Chancellor of Cambridge University and will not vote for either of them. I would like to see an outstanding woman Cambridge graduate like our former ambassador to the USA, Karen Pierce, come forward as a candidate for the role
One of His Majesty’s counsel learned in the law accuses the judges of our national apex court of “abandoning their judicial oath in service of pleasing their wealthy friends” and scarcely a word of condemnation of that outrageous allegation is made here
April 27, 2025 at 11:13 PM
One of His Majesty’s counsel learned in the law accuses the judges of our national apex court of “abandoning their judicial oath in service of pleasing their wealthy friends” and scarcely a word of condemnation of that outrageous allegation is made here
Reposted by Barbara Rich
The Vindication of Women. open.substack.com/pub/alexmass...
The Vindication of Women
The mills of truth grind very slowly but they do grind exceedingly well
open.substack.com
April 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The Vindication of Women. open.substack.com/pub/alexmass...
St George and the dragon, church painting in Georgia
April 23, 2025 at 12:42 PM
St George and the dragon, church painting in Georgia
Reposted by Barbara Rich
The misreporting/misunderstanding of the Court’s decision is enraging me. Whatever one’s personal views (and I think the judgement is legally and morally correct), it’s painful as a lawyer to see the Court’s role so misrepresented.
April 22, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The misreporting/misunderstanding of the Court’s decision is enraging me. Whatever one’s personal views (and I think the judgement is legally and morally correct), it’s painful as a lawyer to see the Court’s role so misrepresented.
Thanks to everyone who attended our webinar and provided interesting material for the Q and A. A recording and our speakers’ notes will be on our chambers website soon
Today 22 April at 5pm I and 5 Stone Buildings colleagues are holding a free webinar on the Assisted Dying Bill
www.5sblaw.com/events/upcom...
www.5sblaw.com/events/upcom...
April 22, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Thanks to everyone who attended our webinar and provided interesting material for the Q and A. A recording and our speakers’ notes will be on our chambers website soon
The person to whom I posted this (I thought) polite, neutral, and legally accurate reply said “thanks” and then without a further word blocked both me and the legal academic whose work I had recommended. Put your fingers in your ears and a blindfold on your eyes, but it still doesn’t change reality
The UK Supreme Court is the nation’s final court of appeal. Appeal courts don’t hear evidence the way trial courts do. The court’s task was statutory interpretation and it approached that in a conventional way. @scottwortley.bsky.social has written authoritatively on this aspect of the decision
April 22, 2025 at 7:56 AM
The person to whom I posted this (I thought) polite, neutral, and legally accurate reply said “thanks” and then without a further word blocked both me and the legal academic whose work I had recommended. Put your fingers in your ears and a blindfold on your eyes, but it still doesn’t change reality
Today 22 April at 5pm I and 5 Stone Buildings colleagues are holding a free webinar on the Assisted Dying Bill
www.5sblaw.com/events/upcom...
www.5sblaw.com/events/upcom...
April 22, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Today 22 April at 5pm I and 5 Stone Buildings colleagues are holding a free webinar on the Assisted Dying Bill
www.5sblaw.com/events/upcom...
www.5sblaw.com/events/upcom...