Government publishes ‘Judicial Review – proposals for further reform: the Government response’

The government has published both its response to the consultation, and the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which intends to implement the response through legislation.…

Court of Appeal rules that SIAC’s reliance on secret evidence in national security cases concerning EU citizens is unfair.

PLP’s client ZZ has won an appeal in the Court of Appeal and judgment was handed down today (24 January 2014). The Court of Appeal ruled that the Special Immigration Appeal Commission’s (SIAC) reliance on secret evidence, in cases concerning EU citizens who have exercised rights of free movement in the UK, in deciding whether an EU citizen poses a risk to national security, fails to comply with EU law and that as a bare minimum, the essence of the grounds of the national security case must always be disclosed to the EU citizen.…

Permission granted in residence test challenge.

PLP has been granted permission to challenge the introduction of the residence test for legal aid. The proposed test would exclude from entitlement to civil legal aid those people with strong cases but no money to pay for legal representation, who (a) are not lawfully resident in the UK and (b) have not been lawfully resident for 12 months.…

Invite to the next meeting of the Deaf & Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPO) Legal Network.

Topic: Under attack: disabled peoples access to justice. Update on what is happening and how we can respond

Speakers: Nick Armstrong: Barrister Matrix Chambers; Ravi Low-Beer: The Public Law Project and disability rights campaigners (tbc)

Low Commission publishes report

From LAG’s website:

The independent commission established by LAG and led by the cross-bench peer Lord Low has published its report today, 9th January. The Commission is calling for urgent reforms to ensure ordinary people can get the help they need to deal with employment, debt, housing and other social welfare law problems.…

Government should re-consider legal aid proposals, Says human rights Committee

This report is taken largely from the Joint select Committee’s own pages at Parliament.uk…

Government appeal against Work Capability Assessment discrimination ruling is rejected

The Court of Appeal today (4 December 2013) rejected the Government’s appeal against a landmark ruling by the Upper Tribunal that the Work Capability Assessment discriminates against people with mental health problems. Ravi Low-Beer, of The Public Law Project, acted as the claimant’s solicitor.…

PLP submits written evidence to JCHR on proposed judicial review reforms

PLP have made a written submission in response to the JCHR’s call for further evidence into the implications for access to justice of the Government’s proposals to reform legal aid, this time by examining some of the Government’s proposals to reform judicial review (as set out in its Consultation Paper Judicial Review: Proposals for further reform).

Lawyers and charities express concerns over new costs guidance from the Administrative Court

The Administrative Court has published new guidance for parties seeking costs orders from the Administrative Court in settled judicial review claims. The guidance was published on 14th November and came into force on 20th November 2013. Lawyers at Doughty Street Chambers have written to the Court to raise serious concerns over the content and status of the guidance. The letter is backed by charities including The Howard League, PLP and Rights Watch UK.…

Justice Alliance open letter to Nick Clegg

The Public Law Project has signed a joint letter from Justcie Alliance and added to the list of statements being taken to Nick Clegg MP……

JCHR call for evidence on proposed changes to judicial review

The Joint Committee on Human Rights, chaired by Dr Hywel Francis MP, is extending its inquiry into the implications for access to justice of the Government’s proposals to reform legal aid, by examining also some of the Government’s proposals to reform judicial review, as set out in its Consultation Paper Judicial Review: Proposals for further reform.…

PLP Publishes its response to the Government’s latest judicial review reform proposals.

The Public Law Project has published its full response to the Government consultation ‘Judicial Review: Proposals for further reform’.…