Justice secretary Chris Grayling has tabled two concessions on proposals to reform judicial review in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill.
They are: to give judges discretion on whether to grant permission for a challenge if they are of “exceptional public interest”; and to allow judicial committees to decide the level at which individuals who fund cases will have to be identified.
The Bill was this week making its third appearance in the Commons and is due to go back to the Lords for a further vote, in the so-called “ping-pong” procedure.
Earlier this week, the Bar Council, Law Society and Chartered Institute of Legal Executives urged MPs to accept the Lords’ amendments to Pt 4 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill in the House of Commons vote. They warn that the Bill unnecessarily restricts judicial review, especially to those of limited means.
