Two magistrates sanctioned over separate car park incidents
By Bianca Castro >> (15 August 2025) Two magistrates have been sanctioned for misconduct over separate car park issues – one of which led to an altercation and the other to a court session being interrupted. Magistrate Shirley Holmes, who said she was ‘provoked’ during an argument in a supermarket car park, was issued with a formal warning […]
Reading Crown Court tests fast-track case pilot
By Charlie Moloney >> (1 August 2025) A fast-track trial pilot is under way at the Crown court in Reading to try and expedite cases which are most likely to crack, after the backlog of cases reached a 25-year high last month. The Gazette understands the initiative will see certain short bail cases, for which evidence […]
London Legal Walk 2025
Press Release – London, 30 June 2025 Team MT UK proudly took part in the 2025 London Legal Walk on 17 June 2025, joining over 19,000 fellow walkers in support of free access to justice. This year’s event marked the 21st anniversary of the Walk and was once again organised by the London Legal Support […]
Court slams expert witness for mixing up twins in abuse case
By John Hyde >> (8 April 2025) A judge has underlined the critical importance of reliable expert evidence, after a doctor in a care order case described her own evidence as ‘appalling’. The court in LB Croydon v D (Critical Scrutiny of the Paediatric Overview) heard that the local authority sought a care order for three children, […]
Crown Court backlog reaches record high
By Monidipa Fouzder >> (27 March 2025) New official figures show that the Crown court backlog has once again risen to a record high – and, the government has admitted, could reach 100,000 by 2029 if it keeps climbing at the current rate. Criminal courts data published today shows that the Crown court open caseload […]
Family court transparency push goes national
By Bianca Castro >> (10 January 2025) Journalists and legal bloggers will be able to report on cases in any family court in England and Wales following a decision by the Family Procedure Rule Committee announced this week. Changes to the procedure rules and new practice directions will mean journalists will be able to report on […]
HM Land Registry staff vote to strike over compulsory office attendance
By Monidipa Fouzder >> (3 January 2025) Hundreds of HM Land Registry staff could go on strike over a civil service mandate to work in the office three days a week – however the agency has told the Gazette that any industrial action is unlikely to affect conveyancing transactions. Last week the Public Services and Commercial Union announced […]
Family lawyers face long wait for further divorce reform
By Monidipa Fouzder >> (4 December 2024) The wait is nearly over for family lawyers waiting to see the outcome of Law Commission work to review the laws governing finances on divorce. However, they will have to wait a long time before they see any actual reforms – law commissioner Professor Nick Hopkins told a Westminster […]
‘Immovables rule’ has not moved, Supreme Court rules
By Michael Cross >> (20 November 2024) The long established principle that questions of rights to and interests in land and real estate are subject to the law of the country where the property is situated has been upheld by the Supreme Court. In Kireeva v Bedzhamov, five justices, led by Lord Lloyd-Jones and Lord Richards, agreed […]
Justice secretary finds extra cash for criminal legal aid
By Monidipa Fouzder >> (14 November 2024) Criminal legal aid lawyers will finally see movement on pay after the government today announced a £24m injection into police station and youth court fees – £3m more than what the previous administration proposed. In January then justice secretary Alex Chalk consulted on £21m for criminal legal aid – […]
