Roundup: Bringing rights home weekly

15 February 2011 by Graeme Hall

Today we are reinvigorating our weekly human rights news and case law roundup. Look out for regular bulletins of all the law we haven’t quite managed to feature in full blog posts.

by Graeme Hall

Bringing Rights Back Home, with foreword by Lord Hoffmann – Policy Exchange: A report by political scientist Michael Pinto-Duschinsky, commissioned by the thinktank Policy Exchange, offers a strong academic criticism of the European Court of Human Rights’ current composition and powers, as well as the affects its judgments are having in Britain. Click here for our previous commentary on the report.

Ben Emmerson: The European Court of Human Rights enhances our democracy – The Independent: In a detailed article, Ben Emmerson QC examines the thinktank Exchange Policy’s recently published report ‘Bringing Rights Back Home’, which criticised the current practises of the European Court of Human Rights. In particular, the barrister pays attention to the comments of Lord Hoffman (a former law Lord) who authored the report’s foreward. See our previous post for a commentary on the report.

UK will not defy European court over votes for prisoners, says Kenneth Clarke – guardian.co.uk: The Guardian reports that Kenneth Clarke, the Justice Secretary, has stated that the UK government has to comply with the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment that the blanket ban on disenfranchising prisoners was a violation of their human rights. However, Mr. Clarke made clear that the mechanics to achieve compliance were “still to be settled”. See our most recent post on this issue.

MoJ Consultation – Is there a legitimate demand for live, text-based communications to be used from the courtroom?: The Ministry of Justice has opened a consultation on the media’s use of live, text-based forms of communication for the purposes of fair and accurate reporting in the courts of England and Wales. The MoJ is inviting responses between 7 February 2011 and 4 May 2011. See our recent post regarding the Supreme Court’s guidance on live text-based communications

Julian Assange’s extradition hearing – Head of Legal: Carl Gardner writes the Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, is likely to be extradited back to Sweden. Click here for our overview of the case and our concurring opinion that whatever the outcome, there is likely to be an appeal.

BBC News – Supreme Court independence ‘threatened’ by funding: The BBC reports on a recent lecture of the President of the Supreme Court, Lord Phillips, who warned that the Supreme Court’s independence is threatened if it continues to be directly funded by the Ministry of Justice. See our recent post on Lord Phillips’ lecture.

DNA profiles of most people questioned by police but released will be deleted, says Government: OUT-LAW.com reports that under the Freedom Bill, the government will require the destruction of DNA samples taken from suspects who are not charged or convicted of a crime. See today’s

In the courts

Luton Borough Council & Nottingham City Council & Ors, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Education [2011] EWHC 217 (Admin) (11 February 2011): Coalition cancellation of school-building program was unlawful. Lack of consultation, failed to regard equalities impact. The secretary of state must now reconsider “with an open mind”.

SA (Iranian Arabs-no general risk) Iran CG [2011] UKUT 41 (IAC) (10 February 2011): Upper Tribunal: Being Iranian Arab does not itself generate risk of persecution upon return to Iran. Our post on this coming soon.

BA (Demonstrators in Britain – risk on return) Iran CG [2011] UKUT 36 (IAC) (10 February 2011): Iranian who demonstrated against regime in UK is at real risk of being persecuted as a result upon return. Tribunal gives general guidance on such cases. Our post coming soon.

Mustafa Kamal MUSTAFA (ABU HAMZA) (No. 1) v the United Kingdom – 31411/07 [2011] ECHR 211 (18 January 2011): The European Court of Human Rights has rejected Abu Hamza’s claim that his trial in the United Kingdom for soliciting to murder, inciting racial hatred and terrorism charges was unfair. See our commentary of the Court’s decision here.

Manchester City Council v Pinnock [2011] UKSC 6 (9 February 2011): Supreme Court updates Pinnock (article 8 and council possession) judgment, re order and costs.

And don’t forget our recent posts…

• Another former MP jailed for expenses offences February 10, 2011 Adam Wagner
• Prisoner votes: a ping pong ball in a wind tunnel February 10, 2011 Adam Wagner
• No right for prisoner to wear Easter lily February 10, 20111 Crown Office Row
• “Socialism in a single clause”: Public sector equality duty seminar February 10, 2011 1 Crown Office Row
• Justice in the age of insecurity February 9, 2011Adam Wagner
• It’s time we packed our bags at Strasbourg, says report February 9, 2011 Rosalind English
• Daily Mail back on naughty step over low-IQ sex ban case February 8, 2011 Adam Wagner
• Radical cleric European human rights claim rejected February 8, 2011 Adam Wagner

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