header-logo header-logo

06 October 2016 / Dr Jon Robins
Issue: 7717 / Categories: Opinion
printer mail-detail

The rule of law in action

nlj_7717_robins

The long-awaited ruling of the Hillsborough inquests shows that justice is worth fighting for, says Jon Robins

It so happened that I was interviewing the formidable Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall on the day that two of the lawyers who worked so tirelessly to win some measure of justice for the families of the 96 dead were recognised at the Halsbury Legal Awards. Elkan Abrahamson and Marcia Willis Stewart received the Rule of Law Award in recognition of their “integrity, tenacity, pursuit of justice and humanity” last week.

I left a sun-kissed Anfield where I met Margaret, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, for the award ceremony with her devastating critique of British justice ringing in my ears. She lost her 18-year-old son, James, in the 1989 disaster.

“What made me angry was that all that evidence had been there for all those years,” she told me. “It could have made the families’ lives so much easier but, no, they decided to keep it hidden. Let the fans stand accused, let

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Thomson Hayton Winkley strengthens family law team

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Construction lawyer returns to Ward Hadaway in Teesside role

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei

Bird Bird hires leading legal transformation expert

NEWS
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

How forcefully can a litigant criticise a public authority before robust advocacy crosses the line into unreasonable conduct? 
back-to-top-scroll