Here, Sir Bob sets out the ongoing disgrace of IPP sentences. Hundreds of humans left in prison 10 years after their original tariff. Almost 100 self-inflicted deaths. Blunkett’s biggest regret. And this Parliament’s greatest legislative omission.

Our message of solidarity regarding yesterday’s appalling incident at #Stratford Magistrates court .

Last year 1,436 trials of all offences in the Crown Court were adjourned on the first day due to the absence of either a prosecution or defence advocate, a 20 fold increase on 2019 when 71 trials were similarly adjourned. Of those 252 were trials of sexual offences adjourned due…

A valuable insight into the Barrett Method.

Looking forward to casually crowbarring this into conversation

I have been fortunate enough to see an advance copy of Sister in Law, by Harriet Wistrich. It is a remarkable book chronicling an astonishing career. Countless lives have been changed, improved and saved by Harriet’s tireless campaigning. Highly recommended.

This is an excellent post. As a criminal barrister I also occasionally have to see and hear some horrible things - but mercifully not this volume or scale. I will always defend my wig and gown as it allows me a slight mental/emotional separation from the horrid stuff at work.

SE Circuit Midland Circuit a female barrister left important kit on an EMR train today somewhere between StPancras & Kettering. I have rescued said items & am keen to reunite them with the owner. Please distribute this widely!

As I understand it, Hugh Grant’s issue with Part 36 offers is that wealthy litigants can use the threat of costs to prevent a trial at which the public will hearing of their wrongdoing - even when there is a public interest in our knowing about this.

The obvious solution is…

Defence lawyer at Stratford mags refused entry without intrusive 'pat down' search UNDER her dress.

Last week another advocate who is a regular at the court told us security at Stratford is 'on a complete power trip' with 'everyone targeted'.

The Secret Barrister Tristan Kirk

A pithy explanation of why this is either a nuts policy or one designed to create a confected immigration crisis. It is either way profoundly dangerous stuff - socially, politically and constitutionally.

Prisoners at #HMPLincoln are waiting months to see the prisons mental health service leaving many without vital prescribed medication.
The service is under resourced - 1 part time psychiatrist.
The state of our prisons is scandalous
Idle Courts The Secret Barrister…

Just off for a hearing in a rape case. Allegation reported in 2021, trial not before 2025, if we’re all lucky.

No podium speeches from the Prime Minister about this. No promises to magic up more judges, courts or lawyers.

Just silence, and the threat of further cuts to come.

As a prosecutor, this isn't something you want to see one of your witnesses doing.

This is very good indeed.

Yet to master the ability to thread properly, but to repeat a post hiding somewhere in my thread is this: Judiciary says it's central to rule of law that decisions on deployment remain for the independent judiciary. 'These matters should not be drawn into the political arena.'

The ramifications of this case are huge.

PM says 25 courtrooms & 150 judges available to deal with legal challenges from asylum seekers. When courts are struggling with backlog - partly due to not enough barristers & courts - not clear how govt going to achieve these resources by not having impact on judicial system?

Aside from the moral and practical vacuity of the Rwanda policy, one thing it illustrates - as we have been saying for years - is that the delays and shortages in the justice system could be fixed if the government cared to.

When they want to spend money on courts, they find it.

This from #Newsnight in Jan - on the judges & courtrooms that will be made available for legal challenges over Rwanda deportation, when the court backlog is around 66,000