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Supremely busy in court

21 July 2025
Issue: 8126 / Categories: Legal News , In Court
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Cases concerning the pollution of Manchester Ship Canal and a father’s attempt to use the writ of habeas corpus to challenge a care order were among 43 Supreme Court judgments handed down last year

The total is down from 51 in the previous year. The court decided 219 applications for permission to appeal and delivered 49 judgments in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, up from 39 in the previous year, according to its annual report and accounts, laid before Parliament last week.

It also concluded the implementation of its Case Management Portal system and launched two websites, as part of a three-year ‘Change Programme’, which was delivered on time and in budget.

Vicky Fox, the court’s chief executive, said: ‘The court plays an important role in the UK and internationally, deciding appeals of great significance. It is also one the most open and transparent courts in the world.’ Fox said more than 66,000 people visited the court last year while 1.4 million people used the court’s website.

Issue: 8126 / 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
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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