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European Union – Reference to European Court. The Court of Justice of the European Union held that EU law had to be interpreted as precluding national legislation under which ordinary courts were under a duty, if they considered a national statute to be contrary to art 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, to apply to the constitutional court for that statute to be generally struck down, to the extent that the priority nature of that procedure prevented all the other national courts or tribunals from exercising their right of fulfilling their obligation to refer questions to the Court for a preliminary ruling. Further, an appearance entered by a representative in absentia did not amount to an appearance being entered by a defendant for the purposes of art 24 of the Council Regulation (EC) 44/2001.
European Union – Reference to European Court. The Court of Justice of the European Union held that EU law had to be interpreted as precluding national legislation under which ordinary courts were under a duty, if they considered a national statute to be contrary to art 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, to apply to the constitutional court for that statute to be generally struck down, to the extent that the priority nature of that procedure prevented all the other national courts or tribunals from exercising their right of fulfilling their obligation to refer questions to the Court for a preliminary ruling. Further, an appearance entered by a representative in absentia did not amount to an appearance being entered by a defendant for the purposes of art 24 of the Council Regulation (EC) 44/2001.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
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
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
In an era of patient-centred care and growing concern over misconduct in medical settings, why do women still lack the right to choose women consultants for examination and treatment? Charles Davey investigates
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
