As expected, the Commission has issued a Communication proposing an EU e-Justice strategy, with annexed to it an action plan setting out a timetable for the various envisaged projects over the next 5 years. The Council and the Parliament are both supportive. See: http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/docs/com_2008_329_en.pdf
The Commission’s voluntary online register of interest representatives engaged in influencing the policy formulation and decision-making processes of the European institutions is operational. See:https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/transparency/regrin/infos/howtoregister.do Developments on these and other current issues are reported on in Brussels News, the regular newsletter of the Brussels Office for members of the Bar of England & Wales. Please e-mail:evanna.fruithof@barcouncil.be
The Council is expected to adopt this 2007 proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment through the criminal law any timenow. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/file.jsp?id=5445232&language=en&mailer=true
The debate is now well underway as to what the Commission’s new 5-year (2010- 2014) work programme on justice and home affairs should contain. A high-level group of Justice ministers, brought together to advise the Commission and the Council in the field, has identified 5 objectives for the future:
In recent months both the Council and the European Parliament have thrown their support behind this January 2008 joint Member State proposal for a Framework Decision on enhancing the procedural rights of persons, and fostering the application of the principle of mutual recognition, in respect of judicial decisions rendered in the absence of their subject. The aim is for adoption this year.
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has recently drawn attention to the increasingly serious view being taken by the Complaints Committee of defaults in relation to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) obligations and payment of practising certificate fees.
Progress continues on proposals aimed at making life easier for small businesses:
PETER Lodder QC, who has started work as Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, has called for improvements to the way in which potential barristers are trained.
The French EU Presidency has called on the EU Member States to ratify the Hague Convention of 13 January 2000 on the International Protection of Adults. It has also asked the Commission to consider proposing a similar EU legislative measure. The European Parliamentis keen. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/file.sp?id=5637062
Progress at last on elements of the EU’s long-heralded package of measures .
Isle of Man
Applications are invited for the appointment of His Majesty’s Attorney General in the Isle of Man.
Chair of the Bar reports back
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
A career shaped by advocacy beyond her practice, and the realities of living with an invisible disability Dr Natasha Shotunde, Black Barristers’ Network Co-Founder and its Chair for seven years, reflects on a decade at the Bar
Responding to criticism on the narrow profile of government-instructed counsel, Mel Nebhrajani CB describes the system-wide change at GLD to drive fairer distribution of work and broader development of talent
The odds of success are as unforgiving as ever, but ambition clearly isn’t in short supply. David Wurtzel’s annual deep‑dive into the competition cohort shows who’s entering, who’s thriving and the trends that will define the next wave
Where to start and where to find help? Monisha Shah, Chair of the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, provides an overview of the silk selection process, debunking some myths along the way
Do chatbot providers owe a duty of care for negligent misstatements? Jasper Wong suggests that the principles applicable to humans should apply equally to machines