A fine WordPress.com site containing the views of a criminal barrister. What those views will be, only time will tell. Follow me on Twitter @Jaimerh354
Few cases are cited more frequently in discussions about juries than Bushell’s Case (1670). It is regularly invoked as authority for the proposition that juries may ignore the law, disregard the evidence, and return whatever verdict conscience dictates. In modern debates about jury nullification, Bushell’s Case is often presented as establishing a constitutional right of jurors to decide cases [ ]
The Government do not know what they have done by announcing their reforms to reduce the criminal court backlog they have forced me out of blogging retirement. This in itself should be enough for them to back down, not through force of my argument but to save everyone else from the tedium that is [ ]
This is the tale of how one of His Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law fell in love with an American music legend in a Lancashire mill town. That could be the elevator pitch for a Richard Curtis movie, but this is my tale of seeing P!nk in concert at the University of Bolton Stadium [ ]
Some of you will have read my blog about my colleague Nicky Gatto. The day after the news was announced HHJ Tom Gilbart, a former member of our chambers, said a few words in open court at the start of the day. Tim Storrie KC responded on behalf of the Bar. A largely impromptu tribute [ ]
The way we work as barristers is a deeply personal skill. We all find ways of doing it which suit us. From the way we go about preparing something to the way we ask a question or make a submission. Nicky’s way of doing it seemed to involve making copious notes in almost indecipherable handwriting [ ]
Imagine that year upon year have passed and there has been no increase to the remuneration that you receive for the work you do. And I mean not even 1% here or 3% there. Imagine that year after year has passed where you have been warning anyone that will listen that the lack of increases [ ]
In H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds the narrator meets an artilleryman who has also survived the initial onslaught of the invading Martians and their walking machines equipped with heat rays. The artilleryman explains to the narrator that he has already decided the Martians cannot be defeated and that the only chance of survival for [ ]
Last week we learned of the passing of HH John Dowse, retired Circuit Judge who sat in the North East and former Deputy Head of Chambers at 9 St John Street, Manchester. A distinguished and successful career. For many of us, it is not the judicial initials that went alongside the His Honour title that [ ]
When I was interviewed during my QC application I was asked why I thought that “Diversity” was one of the attributes that was required in aspirant Silks. Part of my answer was that, as a junior, I had looked to Silks to provide an example. That Silks were not just leading counsel but are, more [ ]
I met Nick when I was a young man playing cricket for the Circuit. From that first meeting we were mates. Well, I say we were mates, I certainly felt like he was my mate. I have no idea whether he thought of me as his mate. But that was one of Nick’s great talents. [ ]