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11 October 2023
Issue: 8044 / Categories: Legal News , Profession
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Welsh language matters

It is ‘a matter of fundamental principle’ that individuals can ‘readily understand what goes on in our courts and tribunals’, Lady Chief Justice Carr has said in her inaugural speech

Addressing the 2023 Legal Wales Conference in Cardiff this week, Dame Sue Carr, LCJ said ‘linguistic access to justice is quite simply inherent in the right to a fair trial’. She highlighted that any party has a right to use the Welsh language, and suggested that artificial intelligence tools could be used to promote Welsh language accessibility in court, and could be used ‘to facilitate media access in Welsh to all proceedings in our courts through, for instance, automated judgment translation’.

She said English and Welsh law was increasingly diverging on devolved matters, and funding is being provided for the training of Welsh judges on new Welsh legislation.

Dame Sue Carr also reflected on her family links with Wales. Her grandfather, Harry Carr, ‘kept the wicket for Glamorgan’, and another relative edited The Western Mail.

Issue: 8044 / Categories: Legal News , Profession
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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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