header-logo header-logo

NLJ this week: Miscarriages of justice―time for reform

05 May 2021
Issue: 7931 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal
printer mail-detail
48106

The shocking wrongful convictions of sub-postmasters has been described as ‘the biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history’. 

The Post Office prosecuted more than 700 sub-postmasters between 2000 and 2014 based on information from its faulty Horizon software. Some went to prison, while others were financially ruined or faced the shame of a conviction through no fault of their own. Some have since died without their names being cleared, and lawyers have called for a judge-led inquiry to be held into the scandal.

In NLJ this week, Jon Robins writes that the scandal is just one example of miscarriage of justice among many and argues that the Criminal Cases Review Commission system is in need of reform. 

Issue: 7931 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal
printer mail-details

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
back-to-top-scroll