February 2012

The legality of the “fiscal treaty”

February 29, 2012

This afternoon after Prime Minister’s questions Bill Cash MP (what would we do without him?) has secured a debate in Parliament about the legality of the “fiscal treaty” – the new agreement between EU member states other than Britain (and the Czech Republic) intend to guarantee fiscal discipline in the Eurozone. Here’s the text published [...]

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Conor Gearty on the DNA of human rights

February 25, 2012

Everything Professor Conor Gearty says about human rights is interesting: he combines a great speaking style with a knack of saying something you didn’t quite expect. So this LSE “Burning Issue” lecture of his is bound to be worth seeing.

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Spelman injunction lifted

February 24, 2012

Jonathan Spelman, the 17-year-old rugby international and son of cabinet minister Caroline Spelman, obtained an injunction earlier this month restraining Express Newspapers – specifically, the Daily Star Sunday – from publishing information about him which, it was argued on his behalf, would breach his right to privacy and have a very significant harmful effect on [...]

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Interview with Paul Dixon, Karen Murphy’s solicitor

February 24, 2012

I also spoke briefly today outside court with Karen Murphy’s solicitor, Paul Dixon of Molesworths Bright Clegg. Upload MP3s using free MP3 hosting from Tindeck.

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Karen Murphy speaking to the media

February 24, 2012

Karen Murphy also spoke to the assembled media, as they say, in front of the Royal Courts of Justice – here’s what she said. Upload MP3s using free MP3 hosting from Tindeck.

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Karen Murphy interview

February 24, 2012

Shortly after her conviction was quashed, Karen Murphy spoke to me briefly outside court. Upload MP3s using free MP3 hosting from Tindeck.

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Murphy v Media Protection Services

February 24, 2012

I was at the High Court this morning to see the quashing of Karen Murphy’s conviction under section 297(1) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act for dishonestly receiving a broadcast with intent to avoid payment. There was no real doubt that this had to be the outcome following the European Court of Justice’s ruling [...]

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Family arbitration needs a clear legal framework

February 23, 2012

I’ve written a piece for the Guardian Law website today, about yesterday’s launch, by the new Institute of Family Law Arbitrators, of a scheme of binding family law arbitration. The scheme itself doesn’t worry me: I’m sure the IFLA’s arbitrators are all more than competent family lawyers who’ll do a good job. I am a [...]

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Without Prejudice

February 17, 2012

In Without Prejudice this week, regulars, Cat Griffiths (editor of The Lawyer) and barrister Nichola Higgins join David Allen Green, CharonQC and me to discuss: “alternative business structures” for legal services prayers in the council chamber and oaths in court whether judges should be involved in appraising advocates, and the arrests of Sun journalists, and [...]

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Supreme Court judgment: Sugar v BBC

February 15, 2012

The Supreme Court has today given judgment in this case, about the extent to which the Freedom of Information Act 2000 applies to information the BBC holds for journalistic purposes. I’m afraid the case has something of the Dickensian about it: Mr. Sugar (a lawyer) asked the BBC to disclose the “Balen report” – an [...]

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