header-logo header-logo

Extra judges drafted for Rwanda appeals

17 January 2024
Issue: 8055 / Categories: Legal News , Immigration & asylum
printer mail-detail
Extra First-tier tribunal judges will be recruited, trained and ready to start hearing Illegal Migration Act appeals ‘from this summer’, according to Alex Chalk, the Lord Chancellor

MPs were this week debating the controversial Bill, under which persons arriving via what the Bill terms ‘illegal’ means, such as a small boat, will be detained and removed to their home country or to Rwanda for claims processing.

In a written statement issued one hour before the debate began, Chalk clarified that additional First-tier tribunal judges would be deployed to the Upper Tribunal to hear the appeals.

‘The judiciary have identified relevant judges, which could provide over 5,000 additional sitting days,’ Chalk said.

‘The decision on whether to deploy additional judges temporarily to the Upper Tribunal, including when they sit and the courtrooms they use, is for the independent judiciary and will be taken by the relevant leadership judges at the time and in the interests of justice. In addition, the Lord Chancellor has asked the Judicial Appointments Commission to recruit more judges to the First-tier and Upper Tribunal.

‘The recruitment will conclude in the next few months and new judges will be appointed, trained, and start sitting from this summer.’

He said the Ministry of Justice had made 25 hearing rooms available for the appeals within the existing Immigration and Asylum Chamber in London, with remote hearing technology installed. More than 100 extra staff have been recruited and are currently in training.

Under the Bill, individuals issued with a third country removal notice have eight days to make their claim. The Home Secretary then has four days to decide whether the claim should succeed, not succeed or be certified as clearly unfounded.

If certified unfounded, there is no automatic right of appeal, but the individual has seven working days to apply to the Upper Tribunal for permission to appeal. The Upper Tribunal has seven working days to decide. No further appeal is available.

If rejected but not certified unfounded, the individual has seven working days to give notice of appeal to the Upper Tribunal, which then has 23 working days to make its decision. 
Issue: 8055 / Categories: Legal News , Immigration & asylum
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Maria Karaiskos KC, Church Court Chambers

NLJ Career Profile: Maria Karaiskos KC, Church Court Chambers

Maria Karaiskos KC, recently appointed as the first female head of Church Court Chambers, discusses breaking down barriers, the lure of the courtroom, and the power of storytelling

1 Hare Court—Peter Mitchell KC & Amber Sheridan

1 Hare Court—Peter Mitchell KC & Amber Sheridan

Leading family law set strengthens ranks with high-profile additions

Thackray Williams—Jennifer Nicol

Thackray Williams—Jennifer Nicol

Firm bolsters commercial team with senior employment partner hire

NEWS
Writing in NLJ this week, Kelvin Rutledge KC of Cornerstone Barristers and Genevieve Screeche-Powell of Field Court Chambers examine the Court of Appeal’s rejection of a discrimination challenge to Tower Hamlets’ housing database
Michael Zander KC, Emeritus Professor at LSE, tracks the turbulent passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill through the House of Lords in this week's issue of NLJ. Two marathon debates drew contributions from nearly 200 peers, split between support, opposition and conditional approval
Alistair Mills of Landmark Chambers reflects on the Human Rights Act 1998 a quarter-century after it came into force, in this week's issue of NLJ
In his latest Civil Way column for NLJ, Stephen Gold surveys a raft of procedural changes and quirky disputes shaping civil practice. His message is clear: civil practitioners must brace for continual tweaks, unexpected contentions and rising costs in everyday litigation
Barbara Mills KC, chair of the Bar 2025 and joint head of chambers at 4PB, sets out in this week's NLJ how the profession will respond to Baroness Harriet Harman KC’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at the Bar
back-to-top-scroll