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New legal year makes history

06 October 2017
Issue: 7764 / Categories: Legal News , In Court
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Sir Ian Burnett donned the robes of Lord Chief Justice this week while Lady Hale made history as the first woman President of the Supreme Court.

Sir Ian, who took over from Lord Thomas at a ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice this week, practised common and public law from Temple Garden Chambers until 2008, when he joined the High Court. Notable cases included acting as leading counsel to the inquiry into the Southall rail crash, and as counsel to the inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi al Fayed. He said: ‘I believe we should be better at explaining our role and the vital importance of our independence and impartiality.’

Over at the Supreme Court, meanwhile, Lady Hale was sworn in as President along with Deputy President Lord Mance and three new Justices, Lady Black, Lord Lloyd-Jones and Lord Briggs.

Baroness Hale, who succeeds Lord Neuberger, pledged to ‘do right to all manner of people’ while saying her oaths. She was among the first cohort of Justices when the Supreme Court opened in 2009, and is a former academic and family law barrister at the Manchester Bar.

Issue: 7764 / Categories: Legal News , In Court
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
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The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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