Rule of Law

Freedom of expression is “an important card in the pack” but “not always the ace of trumps”,  according to Lady Justice Arden.
In a speech, Freedom of Expression and the Role of a Supreme Court—Some Issues from Around the World, at a judicial academic conference in the summer, Arden LJ considered the role of Supreme Courts. 

SECURITY incidents at court do happen and can be a source of great concern to counsel. In recent months, the issue of court security has been brought to the attention of the Legal Services Committee and it has been seeking to establish the extent of the problem. To this end we have asked barristers to let us have details of any violent incidents at court, including incidents of verbal abuse. 

We have also been in contact with the central team dealing with security policy and guidance at HMCS. HMCS has in place systems to monitor security incidents at court and they are urging stakeholders to report all incidents, no matter how minor. This will ensure that they can establish a comprehensive picture of the level of conflict and potential violence and this will enable them to review what provisions can be put in place to mitigate or eliminate this actual or potential threat to court users. 

The 2009 Conference promises to be accessible, and of interest, to all members of the Bar, says Fiona Jackson.  

On 7 November the 24th Annual Bar Conference will consider as its theme “Access to Justice — Justice for All?”. To answer the perennial question “Why should I go?”, key reasons this year include: 

• A programme including a broad range of workshops debating core issues affecting the whole profession and the justice system. Barristers practising in all areas will find sessions directly relevant to them 
• Prestigious and expert speakers considering Access to Justice issues at home and abroad 
• What better way to earn at least six CPD points and network with colleagues? There are also free and discounted places, online booking and free childcare facilities available 

The Qatar Law Forum in May 2009 brought together global leaders in law to mark a shared commitment to the rule of law, reports Khadija Ali.  

The Qatar Law Forum took place in Doha from 29 to 31 May 2009 under the patronage of His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. 

Sappho Dias sends a clear message to the judges purporting to try Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  

The legal community is reaching out to help Muzaffarabad rebuild its court system after the 2005 earthquake laid its city to dust, reports Fatim Kurji.  

Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, is cradled by lofty mountains and sits at the confluence of the Jhelum and Neelum rivers. A popular tourist destination, this busy city has always been a blend of cultures and peoples, and bustled with the activity of any major city. In October 2005, however, Muzaffarabad and its surrounding cities felt the wrath of an earthquake that hit 7.6 on the Richter Scale. The city was devastated. The human impact of the earthquake was immense and over 70,000 people perished. The international community quickly resolved to send aid and assistance. 

JUDGE Johann Kriegler made the keynote address at the second Annual International Rule of Law lecture hosted by The Bar Council. A former Appeal Court and Constitutional Court Judge in South Africa, he was Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission which presided over South Africa’s first elections based on universal adult suffrage. 

In a speech entitled “The rule of law in post-colonial Africa: A British legacy?”, Judge Kriegler discussed the Rule of Law and how this is influenced by the Bar, its traditions, and its ethical standards. Fifteen years after South Africa emerged from the shadows as a model constitutional democracy committed to the Rule of Law, Judge Kriegler set out his thoughts on the progress it has made in relation to major political forces and the public at large. He discussed how the UK can assist South Africa in preserving the Rule of Law in its former colonies in Africa. Commenting on the Lecture, former Chairman of the Bar Tim Dutton QC said: 

A delegation from the Bar Council and Law Society, led by Adrian Hughes QC and Neil Sampson, Co-chairs of the joint China Law Council undertook a successful visit to Chongqing, Tianjin and Beijing from 16-21 November 2008. The visit built on the longstanding relationship that has already been developed between the legal professions in China and the UK. It also sought to raise the profile of UK legal services, and the Bar in particular, in the thriving economic centers of Tianjin and Chongqing, increase our understanding of the local market and facilitate networking with local lawyers and law firms. 

One-day seminars were held in Tianjin and Chongqing in conjunction with the local bar associations. The morning seminars, given by Stephen Hockman QC and Gordon Wignall, as well as solicitors colleagues, focused on various aspects of UK and European environmental law. In the afternoons, Adrian Hughes QC and Philip Riches led seminars on international arbitration, the services the bar can offer Chinese clients, and how to identify and instruct a suitable barrister. All the seminars were very well attended (c. 100), followed by lively discussion. The local bar associations were most welcoming and links with these important interlocutors were deepened. 

As the Ministry of Justice marks its first anniversary, Elsa Booth meets Jack Straw—the first Lord Chancellor to sit in the Commons and with an unprecedented remit—and examines the man behind the ministry and his vision for justice