Bystander I haven’t heard whether the smugly grinning fun-revolutionary who was arrested for wrecking the Boat Race has been charged with an offence. On the face of it, a Public Order Act Section 4 might be a runner (he has  cheerfully admitted planning and the intention of causing harassment alarm and distress). If he is  [ Read More ]

James Manwaring This is the first part of a 5 part series which details the basic idea behind the Rule of Law, and proposes the idea of a ‘timetable’ to explain the different components of the concept.   It’s a phrase you probably hear all the time. Used and abused consistently, for proponents of wildly  [ Read More ]

Henry Hill Two zoo keepers are discussing a recent tragedy. For a long time they have prided themselves on the openness of their zoo: the animals are orderly, the visitors safe, restraints few. Unlike zoos in other countries, they have not needed to use iron bars and electric tags to control their animals. Their reputation  [ Read More ]

Bystander It’s been another night when courts have sat to deal with those arrested in connection with the riots. A couple of thoughts occur: The great bulk of the cases have been handled by District Judges. Some lay justices’ noses have been put out of joint by this, but it was probably inevitable, firstly because  [ Read More ]

Bystander This really seems a step too far. When you think of the gravity of the case, much too serious for magistrates of course, the pre-sentence reports, the majesty of the Crown Court, the judge’s consideration, the solemn pronouncement of sentence, what did he end up with? Four months served, much of it probably on  [ Read More ]

Bystander I saw my second ever case of Causing Death By Careless Driving the other day. We were easily persuaded to send it to the Crown Court to be dealt with, despite the fact that it was a run-of-the-mill driving error, that had devastating consequences. I can’t say too much about it, but it came  [ Read More ]

James Manwaring You have to admire whoever designed Preston Magistrates court. A huge cuboid clad in public-toilet white tiles. That takes balls. You can’t just stick it at the bottom of a CV and hope no-one notices. The grand entrance is conveniently located in the car park, facing the ringroad and another car park, this  [ Read More ]

A Lawyer What’s the difference between a lawyer and a prostitute? A lawyer keeps screwing you after you die. How can you spot a lawyer walking down the street? He will have his hands in someone else’s pockets. There are many jokes about lawyers. The jokes mainly criticise the perceived reputation that all lawyers are  [ Read More ]