header-logo header-logo

Food for thought

25 October 2018 / Athelstane Aamodt
Issue: 7814 / Categories: Features
printer mail-detail

Following the latest case with cake at the core, Athelstane Aamodt takes a culinary journey through a few more legal pickles

The judgment in the ‘gay cake’ case of Lee v Ashers Baking Company Ltd [2018] UKSC 49, [2018] All ER (D) 43 (Oct) has provoked a great deal of discussion. The conclusion that the Supreme Court reached—that there was a difference between the message on the cake and the protected characteristic of the person requesting that message—has been hailed by many as a victory for the freedom of ideas and expression, and by others as a defeat for equal rights.

Food, it seems, is often at the heart of important cases; while the judgment in Lee was being prepared, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down judgment in another ‘gay cake’ case, Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd v Colorado Civil Rights Commission , 138 S Ct 1719. The facts of the US case are different, but the conclusion, to quote Lady Hale, ‘… that there is a clear distinction between refusing to produce a cake conveying a particular message, for any customer who wants such a

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ career profile: Liz McGrath KC

NLJ career profile: Liz McGrath KC

A good book, a glass of chilled Albarino, and being creative for pleasure help Liz McGrath balance the rigours of complex bundles and being Head of Chambers

Burges Salmon—Matthew Hancock-Jones

Burges Salmon—Matthew Hancock-Jones

Firm welcomes director in its financial services financial regulatory team

Gateley Legal—Sam Meiklejohn

Gateley Legal—Sam Meiklejohn Premium Content

Partner appointment in firm’s equity capital markets team

NEWS

Law school partners with charity to give free assistance to litigants in need

Magic circle firms, in-house legal departments and litigation firms alike are embracing more flexible ways to manage surges of workloads, the success of Flex Legal has shown

Walkers and runners will take in some of London’s finest views at the 16th annual charity event

Law school partners with charity to give free assistance to litigants in need

Could the Labour government usher in a new era for digital assets, ask Keith Oliver, head of international, and Amalia Neenan FitzGerald, associate, Peters & Peters, in this week’s NLJ

back-to-top-scroll