Issue: Vol 158, Issue 7306

Legal updates

Special immigration status is highly objectionable, costly and unnecessary, says Hina Majid

Low copy number DNA analysis should only be dangerous for the guilty, says Charles Foster

Most practitioners will already be aware of the decision in Johnston v NEI International Combustion Ltd; Rothwell v Chemical & Insulating Co Ltd; Topping v Benchtown Ltd; Grieves v F T Everard & Sons [2007] UKHL 39, [2007] 4 All ER 1047.

Low copy number DNA evidence will continue to be admissible in court, after a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) review found noth­ing to suggest its use should be discontinued.

Phillips v Symes [2008] UKHL 1, [2008] All ER (D) 152 (Jan)

The battle over the controversial unified legal aid contracts intensi­fied this week with the Law Society threatening another law suit against the Legal Services Commission (LSC) over its stance on the issue.

NEW YJB HEAD, MINER COMPLAINTS, WELSH IN COURT

Re F (Children) (DNA Evidence) [2007] EWHC 3235 (Fam), [2008] All ER (D) 171 (Jan)

West Midlands Probation Board v Sutton Coldfield Magistrates’ Court [2008] EWHC 15 (Admin), [2008] All ER (D) 03 (Jan)