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29 January 2009
Issue: 7354 / Categories: Legal News , Tribunals , Legal services , Profession , Employment
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NEWS IN BRIEF

Lord Hunt needs your views; Hacker can apply for judicial review; Change for tribunals

Lord Hunt needs your views
The Law Society is urging solicitors to take part in Lord Hunt’s Law Society-commissioned review into legal services regulation. Lord Hunt is looking for evidence from the entire legal profession, and its clients, and has published a formal Call for Evidence document. Its initial three-month consultation period will end on 9 April 2009. More information is available at the Legal Regulation Reviews website www.legalregulationreview.org.uk/evidence.html.
Hacker can apply for judicial review
British hacker Gary McKinnon, who is facing extradition to the US over charges he hacked into military computers at the Pentagon, was granted leave last week by the High Court to bring a judicial review hearing, likely to take place in March. McKinnon, who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, admits hacking into 97 US government computers including the US Navy and Nasa while searching for classified documents on UFOs. The director of public prosecutions is separately considering his request that he be tried in the UK rather than the US.
Change for tribunals
Kevin Sadler has been appointed the new chief executive of the Tribunals Service, and took up his post on 5 January. The Service now consists of 30 jurisdictions, most of which are being brought into a simplified twotier system consisting of a first tier and an upper tribunal, as part of a programme of reform. Previously, Sadler was director of strategic planning and performance at the Ministry of Justice and change director at the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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