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NLJ this week: Sex, gender & parliamentary sovereignty

13 June 2025
Issue: 8120 / Categories: Legal News , Human rights , Equality , Constitutional law
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Trans rights in the aftermath of the recent Supreme Court judgment is a complex and sensitive area. In this week’s NLJ, Dr Graham Zellick KC, emeritus professor of law and former vice-chancellor of the University of London, reflects on the Supreme Court’s decision in For Women Scotland, the wider societal context behind the decision and the limited powers of the Gender Recognition Act 2004, under which gender recognition certificates are issued

Zellick critiques parts of the Supreme Court’s decision, asking why the court did not take account of a 2004 House of Lords precedent, as well as highlighting For Women Scotland’s impact on the Gender Recognition Act. He writes that the Act ‘has been left with little or no significance.

‘This provokes the question of whether the law remains ECHR-compliant. Amnesty International was allowed to intervene in For Women Scotland and made written submissions on the international human rights aspects of the case, but, inexplicably, they were entirely ignored.’ 

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
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
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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