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Judicial review: under review

Is the current government a threat to the independence of the judiciary? Amanda Robinson & David Wolchover review the evidence

On 14 February 2020, Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar Council, highlighted concerns about the Prime Minister’s proposals for a constitutional commission to examine the role of judicial review challenges and whether judges were trespassing on political territory. Five months on, the Prime Minister’s proposal is now reality with the government announcing last Friday that an independent panel, chaired by Lord Edward Faulks QC, will consider whether the right balance is being struck between the rights of citizens to challenge executive decisions and the need for effective and efficient government. It is our contention that the threat or potential threat to the judiciary is far greater, if the government’s words and actions are taken at face value.

Boris  Johnson: a potted history

The Prime Minister is no stranger to challenges over his apparent indifference to testimonial exactitude, to deploy a euphemism coined by the historical colossus he so

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
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