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Individual Voter Registration Proposals
On the 14th of October 2011 I responded to the consultation on a Government White Paper proposing introducing Individual Electoral Registration. I support individual voter registration, which is what we have outside of the canvass periods now, as I generally think individuals ought be able to control their own voter registration and the supply of […]
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Observing History – Heathrow Robbery Trial Starts Without Jury
Observing History – Heathrow Robbery Trial Starts Without Jury Supporters of the defendants in the UK’s first modern criminal trial where a jury has been denied placed banners on the railings outside the Royal Courts of Justice. This morning I went to the Royal Courts of Justice to personally witness the start of the first […]
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First Modern Criminal Trial Without Jury Set for January 12th 2010
The Royal Courts of Justice. The country’s great cathedral of justice is reduced to a mere reminder of a past era by the government’s erosion of the right to trial by jury. (Photo credit: antmoose) The first criminal trial without a jury in modern times is to begin on Tuesday the 12th of January 2009. […]
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Ministers Given Power to Replace Inquests with Secret Inquiries
Last week the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 was passed by Parliament. The act gives ministers the power to order an secret inquiry, without a jury, be held instead of a coroner’s inquest. I think inquests should be open, public, processes during which the circumstances of a death are determined discussed. An outcome should be […]
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Jury Suggestions
Following my experience as a member of a Jury I wrote to my MP with some very simple suggestions for improving the Jury trial process: David Howarth, I would like to suggest that you seek to amend the Criminal Justice Act (or the relevant legislation) to ensure: A Jury should always be sent out of […]