Reposted by Peter Charles
oh Americans may not understand this, but a 'magistrate' in the UK is a local volunteer with typically no legal background. But it's ok, they receive about 10 days of training. And now they can send you to jail for two years without a jury!
what the fuck
November 25, 2025 at 7:53 PM
oh Americans may not understand this, but a 'magistrate' in the UK is a local volunteer with typically no legal background. But it's ok, they receive about 10 days of training. And now they can send you to jail for two years without a jury!
The Bar Council is not pulling any punches regarding proposed changes to the use of juries for criminal trials
November 25, 2025 at 7:50 PM
The Bar Council is not pulling any punches regarding proposed changes to the use of juries for criminal trials
I doubt removing juries from most criminal cases will address the backlog, but it will reduce public confidence in the justice system. I also predict the Court of Appeal will be asked to hear more appeals.
EXCLUSIVE: Jury trials to be scrapped in most cases to tackle court backlog - in @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
Jury trials to be scrapped in most cases to tackle court backlog
David Lammy, the justice secretary, is proposing that judges hear cases alone for crimes that could result in a sentence of up to five years
www.thetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:21 PM
I doubt removing juries from most criminal cases will address the backlog, but it will reduce public confidence in the justice system. I also predict the Court of Appeal will be asked to hear more appeals.
Reposted by Peter Charles
Come back Howard Hughes, all is forgiven
I literally could not stop myself from inappropriately laughing out loud for real
November 21, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Come back Howard Hughes, all is forgiven
There is going to be a public inquiry in the 2040s into thousands of unsafe convictions
EXCL: Criminals will be stopped from “gaming the system” by choosing trial by jury to increase chances of proceedings collapsing, courts minister has said, promising to limit jury trials by next election - @jessicaelgot.bsky.social reports
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
Exclusive: Courts minister says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
There is going to be a public inquiry in the 2040s into thousands of unsafe convictions
Reposted by Peter Charles
We should get that London council that forced some dodgy owners to completely rebuild a pub they’d illegally demolished on the case.
The White House East Wing has been completely demolished. The demolition is basically at the main White House walls.
October 25, 2025 at 1:10 PM
We should get that London council that forced some dodgy owners to completely rebuild a pub they’d illegally demolished on the case.
Reposted by Peter Charles
Is there a word in German for "election result where the headline is better than you'd feared whilst everything else is confirming all your directional fears"?
October 24, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Is there a word in German for "election result where the headline is better than you'd feared whilst everything else is confirming all your directional fears"?
Reposted by Peter Charles
Random Thoughts: I wished Quiet Carriages in the UK were properly enforced. I prefer them when travelling alone but the amount of people who go on phone calls or talk far too loudly is just silly, yet everyone's too awkward to self enforce
I've counted 3 loud phone calls so far on this Azuma
I've counted 3 loud phone calls so far on this Azuma
October 23, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Random Thoughts: I wished Quiet Carriages in the UK were properly enforced. I prefer them when travelling alone but the amount of people who go on phone calls or talk far too loudly is just silly, yet everyone's too awkward to self enforce
I've counted 3 loud phone calls so far on this Azuma
I've counted 3 loud phone calls so far on this Azuma
Reposted by Peter Charles
W v GRP: the functioning of gender recognition law administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/10/20/w...
W v GRP: the functioning of gender recognition law
Introduction On 17 October 2025, the Family Division of the England and Wales High Court (Mr Justice Hayden) handed down its judgment in W v Gender Recognition Panel [2025] EWHC 2685 (Fam). The cas…
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:29 PM
W v GRP: the functioning of gender recognition law administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/10/20/w...
Reposted by Peter Charles
Not that anyone seems to care, but just a quick reminder that Hungary is still a member state of the ICC and Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin still under indictment by the Court and Hungary still under an obligation to arrest him.
October 17, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Not that anyone seems to care, but just a quick reminder that Hungary is still a member state of the ICC and Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin still under indictment by the Court and Hungary still under an obligation to arrest him.
If the current Labour-Conservative duopoly was to come to an end, this would be quite a plausible outcome. Though I don't know where it would leave me, I am centre-left and I wouldn't want Britain to be on the verge of electing Reform every 4-5 years.
LDs vs Reform is a logical two party system organised around identity and value divides, class and education divides, and Brexit. Labour being in government now (and Cons being tainted by recent toxic government) provide an opening.
Not the most likely outcome perhaps but far from impossible.
Not the most likely outcome perhaps but far from impossible.
October 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
If the current Labour-Conservative duopoly was to come to an end, this would be quite a plausible outcome. Though I don't know where it would leave me, I am centre-left and I wouldn't want Britain to be on the verge of electing Reform every 4-5 years.
Reposted by Peter Charles
If Mr Kipling had a social media account, he would have exceedingly good takes (I'm sorry)
It's pretty crazy that these days Kipling is remembered for his baking more than his writing.
Then how is it I can type? You'll be telling me Mr Kipling didn't make any cakes next.
October 9, 2025 at 1:19 PM
If Mr Kipling had a social media account, he would have exceedingly good takes (I'm sorry)
Depressing…but no equivalent increase in respondents identifying as Scottish. Perhaps a growing indifferent/none of the above?
Scottish Social Attitudes report a dramatic dip in British identity in Scotland in 2024
October 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Depressing…but no equivalent increase in respondents identifying as Scottish. Perhaps a growing indifferent/none of the above?
For context: as implemented in the UK, the Aarhus Convention limits recoverable costs (how much the losing party pays) to £5k or £10k. These costs are specified in the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR). Would it be easier to amend CPR, raising these costs, but stay in the Convention?
September 28, 2025 at 9:33 AM
For context: as implemented in the UK, the Aarhus Convention limits recoverable costs (how much the losing party pays) to £5k or £10k. These costs are specified in the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR). Would it be easier to amend CPR, raising these costs, but stay in the Convention?
Reposted by Peter Charles
OK who is eating the freshly baked mince pies in September? Because if the supermarket is stocking them, then someone is buying them.
September 25, 2025 at 10:23 AM
OK who is eating the freshly baked mince pies in September? Because if the supermarket is stocking them, then someone is buying them.
I now feel profoundly depressed
What I learned from my graduate daughter’s job search is that kids now make hundreds of applications and employers automate the first few rounds of selection in response
September 22, 2025 at 10:21 AM
I now feel profoundly depressed
I don't like the 'they only have 4 MPs' argument. I think if you are genuinely in favour of electoral reform, then it is more reasonable to argue that Reform should receive a similar level of coverage to the Lib Dems based on both parties receiving roughly 1 in 7 votes.
The Lib Dems accuse the BBC of “following Farage around like a lost puppy” and that its extensive Reform coverage – for a party of four MPs – is “fanning the flames of a dangerous populism parroted by Farage and borrowed from Donald Trump"
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/09/b...
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/09/b...
BBC Accused of Pro-Reform Bias as Lib Dems Launch Campaign to End 'Wall to Wall' Farage Coverage
They accuse the BBC of "following Farage around like a lost puppy” and have complained to Ofcom to demand fair coverage
bylinetimes.com
September 9, 2025 at 9:45 PM
I don't like the 'they only have 4 MPs' argument. I think if you are genuinely in favour of electoral reform, then it is more reasonable to argue that Reform should receive a similar level of coverage to the Lib Dems based on both parties receiving roughly 1 in 7 votes.
Reposted by Peter Charles
'Can we stop this? The SNP have six seats. Them wiping out Scottish Labour would require a swing in voting patterns unprecedented anywhere, ever'
Can we stop this?
Reform has 4 seats. Four. Them gaining power would require a swing in voting patterns unprecedented anywhere, ever
Saying it might get clicks, but it also normalises the Far Right. Anyone who knows history should know better.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reform has 4 seats. Four. Them gaining power would require a swing in voting patterns unprecedented anywhere, ever
Saying it might get clicks, but it also normalises the Far Right. Anyone who knows history should know better.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Angela Rayner’s exit proves it. Unless Starmer is able to meet this moment, Reform is on the path to power | John Harris
The prime minister increasingly looks like a man next to a burning house, offering to buy a new bookcase and rug, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
September 8, 2025 at 9:26 AM
'Can we stop this? The SNP have six seats. Them wiping out Scottish Labour would require a swing in voting patterns unprecedented anywhere, ever'
I am interested to see what proposals will emerge from the MoJ. My concern is that this is a distraction, when it is really the common law which is providing procedural protection in immigration and asylum cases.
Interesting appointment.
Jake Richards MP joins Ministry of Justice. He has been one of the most vociferous voices in Labour calling for reform of ECHR.
Suggests PM is serious about it too.
Jake Richards MP joins Ministry of Justice. He has been one of the most vociferous voices in Labour calling for reform of ECHR.
Suggests PM is serious about it too.
September 7, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I am interested to see what proposals will emerge from the MoJ. My concern is that this is a distraction, when it is really the common law which is providing procedural protection in immigration and asylum cases.
No one tell Christopher Monckton about Encore lecture recordings
Christopher Monckton calls for all university teaching to be recorded and permanently archived online. "That would stop the communist propaganda dead!"
September 6, 2025 at 8:50 PM
No one tell Christopher Monckton about Encore lecture recordings
Reposted by Peter Charles
Heading back to Leeds after 4 weeks travelling. Watching Educating Yorkshire on the train up to reacclimatise
September 5, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Heading back to Leeds after 4 weeks travelling. Watching Educating Yorkshire on the train up to reacclimatise
I can't respond to this without revealing what an utter nerd I am when it comes to property law
I can’t imagine many people going through a law degree dream of working in conveyancing.
September 3, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I can't respond to this without revealing what an utter nerd I am when it comes to property law