header-logo header-logo

Watch of Nightingales reduces count

19 February 2024
Issue: 8060 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Procedure & practice
printer mail-detail
Twenty Nightingale courts at nine venues will be extended to ‘help reduce the number of local outstanding cases’, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said

The courts were set up during the Covid-19 pandemic to help court users and professionals minimise infection risks. Six venues have been extended until March 2025: Chichester; Cirencester; Croydon; Fleetwood, Blackpool; Swansea; and Telford.

The remaining three venues have been extended until August this year (Barbican, London), September (Grand Connaught Rooms, London) and December (Maple House, Birmingham).

However, Nightingale courts at Maidstone and Wolverhampton will close at the end of March.

Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: ‘Physical capacity alone is not the solution.

‘We know there are already Nightingale courts sitting empty due to a lack of judges. Last month, the Lady Chief Justice highlighted that there were 100 unplanned closures of courtrooms every week due to the dilapidated physical state of our courts. We hear the same story from our members, who often work in courts with broken heating, sewage, mould and asbestos.

‘The most pressing issue is there are not enough lawyers, court staff or judges to cover all the outstanding cases. Long-term investment is needed across the whole criminal justice system to remedy this.’

Issue: 8060 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Procedure & practice
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Maria Karaiskos KC, Church Court Chambers

NLJ Career Profile: Maria Karaiskos KC, Church Court Chambers

Maria Karaiskos KC, recently appointed as the first female head of Church Court Chambers, discusses breaking down barriers, the lure of the courtroom, and the power of storytelling

1 Hare Court—Peter Mitchell KC & Amber Sheridan

1 Hare Court—Peter Mitchell KC & Amber Sheridan

Leading family law set strengthens ranks with high-profile additions

Thackray Williams—Jennifer Nicol

Thackray Williams—Jennifer Nicol

Firm bolsters commercial team with senior employment partner hire

NEWS
Michael Zander KC, Emeritus Professor at LSE, tracks the turbulent passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill through the House of Lords in this week's issue of NLJ. Two marathon debates drew contributions from nearly 200 peers, split between support, opposition and conditional approval
Alistair Mills of Landmark Chambers reflects on the Human Rights Act 1998 a quarter-century after it came into force, in this week's issue of NLJ
In his latest Civil Way column for NLJ, Stephen Gold surveys a raft of procedural changes and quirky disputes shaping civil practice. His message is clear: civil practitioners must brace for continual tweaks, unexpected contentions and rising costs in everyday litigation
Barbara Mills KC, chair of the Bar 2025 and joint head of chambers at 4PB, sets out in this week's NLJ how the profession will respond to Baroness Harriet Harman KC’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at the Bar
In a very special tribute in this week's NLJ, David Burrows reflects on the retirement of Patrick Allen, co-founder of Hodge Jones & Allen, whose career epitomised the heyday of legal aid
back-to-top-scroll