An Abuse of Process
Senior District Judge Goldspring dismissed a private prosecution filed by the International Centre for Justice for Palestinians, labeling it legally flawed, evidentially deficient and driven by a political agenda. The case sought to use the 1870 Foreign Enlistment Act to charge a dual British‑Israeli national for serving in the Israel Defence Forces. The judge found the statute inapplicable to dual nationals and highlighted serious breaches of the duty of candour by the applicant. Consequently, the summons was refused and the court warned against misuse of the process for ideological purposes.
Lawyers to Survive AI
Sir Geoffrey Vos, the second‑most senior judge in England and Wales, warned that AI‑driven tools will soon give clients free access to statutes and precedents, reshaping the lawyer‑client relationship. He argued lawyers will remain essential, but their role will shift...
Open Justice
Chief Coroner Alexia Durran has launched a fully searchable website for Prevention of Future Death (PFD) reports and updated the publication policy to require all reports and any responses to be sent to the chief coroner after the 56‑day response...
Out of Court
The Magistrates’ Association warns that police‑driven out‑of‑court resolutions have surged 10% in the past year, blurring the line between policing and magistrates’ courts. While cautions, penalty notices and electronic curfews can streamline low‑level offences, the association says some police‑imposed conditions...
A Rules-Based Order?
Donald Trump warned he would destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if Tehran fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, claiming he isn’t worried about war‑crime accusations. The blog notes the International Criminal Court (ICC) has previously issued war‑crime warnings...
A President Retires
The episode examines how a child's financial support can vary dramatically depending on whether their parents are married, in a civil partnership, or merely cohabiting. It highlights that the legal framework often grants higher benefits to the custodial parent in...
Compassionate Reporters
Gemma Kingsley was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court to seven years and seven months in prison for defrauding men of up to £30,000 (approximately $38,000) each. Judge Jason Taylor KC publicly urged reporters to cover the case with compassion, noting...
Rules Are Right
Lord Hermer KC, the UK attorney general, used a Manchester lecture to argue that Britain’s national interest is best served by upholding international law amid escalating US and Israeli military actions against Iran. He warned that a "might is right"...
One Murder Is Enough
Britain’s Home Secretary has won a Court of Appeal ruling that overturns a First‑tier Tribunal decision allowing a Turkish asylum seeker convicted of murdering his wife to remain in the UK. The appellant, identified as KD, was sentenced to life...
Suspending Judgement
The episode critiques the extension of whole‑life prison terms, arguing they contradict efforts to reduce incarceration and actually undermine security in high‑security facilities. It highlights how such sentences make prisons less safe for both inmates and staff, violating the principle...
Diplock Courts
Lord Carswell, former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, reflected on the pressures of judge‑alone trials in Diplock courts, which now handle about five percent of the region’s most serious cases. He argued that despite the heavy responsibility, judges have...
Complaining About Judges
Leading feminist barrister Dr Charlotte Proudman is weighing legal action against the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) after it reversed a complaint against Circuit Judge Daniel Sawyer. The complaint, lodged in June 2025 over misogynistic tweets, was initially accepted but...
The Shortest Act?
The UK Parliament recently enacted the Property (Digital Assets) Bill, a concise piece of legislation that formally recognises digital and electronic assets as personal property under English law. The change follows a multi‑year effort by the Law Commission, including evidence...
New Chair for LSB
Monisha Shah has been announced as the government’s preferred candidate to chair the Legal Services Board, pending a Commons justice committee hearing later this month. Shah brings a diverse portfolio, currently leading the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, Publishers’ Licensing Services,...
Be Charitable
The UK Charity Commission is under fire for allegedly failing to investigate thirty charities and community centres with ties to the Iranian regime, citing fear of racism accusations. A recent court ruling dismissed the Commission’s attempt to judicially review the...
Constitutional Conundrum
The High Court refused permission for the Charity Commission to seek judicial review of two safeguarding complaints, deeming the claim academic and non‑justiciable. The complaints – one by Damian Murray and another by Lara Hall – had previously been upheld...
Life and Death
In this episode, the host critiques a recent Court of Appeal judgment, arguing that its language is overly broad and ambiguous. They contend that the decision lacks a clear, narrower interpretation, making its practical application uncertain. The discussion highlights the...