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Contempt of court – Committal. The claimants had applied to commit the first defendant to prison for contempt of court. The application was heard at the same time as the trial of the main action and the defendant was unrepresented. The judge rejected the allegations of contempt advanced by the claimants, but found two other contempts proved. The defendant was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, held that the judge's decision could not stand where the defendant had not been informed, prior to judgment, of the allegations of contempt which had been found proved, he had not been told of his right not to give evidence, nor had he known of his entitlement to legal aid. The court reiterated its concerns regarding the quality and length of some skeleton arguments.
Contempt of court – Committal. The claimants had applied to commit the first defendant to prison for contempt of court. The application was heard at the same time as the trial of the main action and the defendant was unrepresented. The judge rejected the allegations of contempt advanced by the claimants, but found two other contempts proved. The defendant was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, held that the judge's decision could not stand where the defendant had not been informed, prior to judgment, of the allegations of contempt which had been found proved, he had not been told of his right not to give evidence, nor had he known of his entitlement to legal aid. The court reiterated its concerns regarding the quality and length of some skeleton arguments.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Born from a grievance, their research project grew into a book and is now challenging the status quo. Emma Price and Emma-Louise Fenelon reveal the key findings – and the critical next steps
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
