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300 results

  • Modernising judicial terms and conditions

    We've identified an error on page 7 of the consultation document following some queries about its scope. The current version says that the consultation is “relevant to judicial office holders deployed across courts and HMCTS tribunals in England and Wales”. This is partially incorrect. The proposed measures in the consultation would indeed apply to judicial office holders in courts in England and Wales whose terms and conditions are set by the Lord Chancellor. But they would also... More
    Closed 1 December 2016

  • Transforming our justice system: panel composition in tribunals

    This consultation forms part of the ‘Transforming our justice system’ consultation, launched on 15 September. We are accepting responses on the panel composition element of the consultation until Thursday 24 November. You may also wish to respond to the assisted digital strategy and online conviction and statutory fixed fine elements of the consultation , which is open until Thursday 10 November. Due to an administrative error, two of the documents related to this consultation (the... More
    Closed 24 November 2016

  • Expedited immigration and asylum appeals for detained appellants

    The government is consulting on proposals for an expedited appeals process for detained immigration and asylum appellants. Any new process needs to balance speed and efficiency with accessibility and fairness. The key proposals in this consultation are: that there needs to be new dedicated rules for detained appellants within the principal rules to apply the expedited appeals process to all appellants detained in Immigration Removal... More
    Closed 22 November 2016

  • Transforming our justice system: assisted digital strategy, online conviction and statutory fixed fines

    This consultation forms part of the ‘Transforming our justice system’ consultation, launched on 15 September. We are accepting responses on the assisted digital and online conviction and statutory fixed fine elements of the consultation until Thursday 10 November. You may also wish to respond to the panel composition element of the consultation , which is open until Thursday 24 November. Due to an administrative error, two of the documents related to this consultation (the Online... More
    Closed 10 November 2016

  • Consultation on Fee-Paid Judicial Pension Scheme Draft Regulations

    This is a consultation on the draft regulations which are required to establish the Fee Paid Judicial Pension Scheme to comply with court and tribunal rulings in the case of O’Brien and related litigation. The purpose of the regulations once the draft is finalised and subject to the approval of Parliament is to provide eligible fee paid judicial office holders with pension benefits, both retrospective and going forward, which are comparable to those available for salaried judges (in so... More
    Closed 31 October 2016

  • Proposal on the future of Camberwell Green and Hammersmith Magistrates’ Courts

    This consultation sets out the proposal for the future of Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court and Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court, including the closure of the buildings and the work being absorbed by existing courts in London. The closures will also contribute to the consolidation of the London criminal court estate and, through disposal, provide funding for the ongoing process of reforming court and tribunal services in England & Wales. The consultation seeks the views of... More
    Closed 27 October 2016

  • Transforming our justice system: consultation

    This consultation has been superseded by two separate consultations: Transforming Our Justice System: Assisted Digital Strategy, Online Conviction and Statutory Fixed Fines (closed 10 November) Transforming Our Justice System: Panel Composition in Tribunals (closing date 24 November) This is due to administrative error where two documents (the Online Convictions/Statutory Fixed Fine Impact Assessment & Equalities Statement, and the Panel Composition Equalities Statement) were not... More
    Closed 19 October 2016

  • Reform of judicial review: request for further views on the provision of financial information to other parties

    The government is setting out how it intends financial information to be provided and used in connection with judicial reviews, and seeking further views on one aspect. Following the consultation, and discussions with senior stakeholders, the government has decided to invite further views on one aspect of the reforms, regarding the provision to other parties of financial information provided under section 85 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. The invitation to provide... More
    Closed 18 August 2016

  • Magistrates’ court sentencing guidelines

    The Sentencing Council is consulting on draft guidelines for a group of summary offences covered by the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines (MCSG) and is seeking the views of people interested in criminal sentencing. Following consultation, when the revised guidelines are produced, they will apply to all offenders aged 18 and older, who are sentenced on or after the date it comes into force, regardless of the date of the offence. The current MCSG were last fully updated in 2008... More
    Closed 11 August 2016

  • Appeals to the Court of Appeal: proposed amendments to Civil Procedure Rules and Practice Direction

    This consultation seeks your views on proposals to amend the Civil Procedure Rules in respect of appeals to the Court of Appeal. The proposals are suggested as part of a package of reforms to alleviate pressure on the Court of Appeal. The proposals in this consultation amend the Civil Procedure Rules (which govern court procedure in England and Wales) - (1) to increase in the threshold for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal; (2) to remove the automatic right of oral... More
    Closed 24 June 2016

  • Consultation on proposals for the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) fees

    This consultation sets out the government’s proposals for charging fees in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) at full cost recovery levels. To achieve this we are proposing increasing the fees currently charged in the First-tier Tribunal and the introduction of fees for permission to appeal applications and for appeals heard in the Upper Tribunal. Alongside the fee increases the consultation also seeks views on a... More
    Closed 3 June 2016

  • Reduction in sentence for a guilty plea guideline consultation

    The Sentencing Council is consulting on a draft reduction in sentence for a guilty plea guideline and is seeking the views of people interested in criminal sentencing. The Council is required by law (Coroners and Justice Act 2009 s.120(3)(a)) to produce a guideline on reductions for guilty pleas. There is a current definitive guideline issued by the Council’s predecessor body, the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC) in 2007 (see link below – PDF 1). The Council collected data on... More
    Closed 5 May 2016

  • Claims Management Regulation consultation: cutting the costs for consumers – financial claims

    This consultation paper sets out proposals to place restrictions on the level of fees that regulated Claims Management Companies (CMCs) can charge consumers in the financial products and services claims sector. The consultation seeks views and further evidence in relation to the proposals and is aimed at all regulated CMCs, trade bodies and anybody with an interest in claims management matters in England and Wales. Proposals We are seeking views and further evidence in relation to... More
    Closed 11 April 2016

  • Fee proposals for grants of probate

    This consultation sets out the government’s proposals for reforming the fee payable for an application for a grant of probate. The proposed fee regime will move from a flat to a banded fee approach, proportionate to, and rising with, the value of the estate, and at the same time will increase the value of the estate below which no fee is payable from £5,000 to £50,000, lifting some 30,000 estates out of paying any fee. The proposals are intended to be fair and progressive. The Government... More
    Closed 1 April 2016

  • Consultation on cremation following infant cremation inquiries

    This consultation seeks views on proposals for a number of changes to the Cremation (England and Wales) Regulations 2008, and for improving other aspects of cremation practice. The consultation follows the Government’s consideration of the recommendations of two inquiries into infant cremations: David Jenkins’ inquiry into the way infant cremations were carried out at Emstrey Crematorium in Shropshire between 1996 and 2012. David Jenkins’ June 2015 report established that... More
    Closed 9 March 2016

  • Imposition consultation

    The Sentencing Council is proposing to issue a new definitive guideline for imposition of community and custodial sentences. The Sentencing Council is therefore seeking feedback from sentencers, justices’ clerks, legal advisers, prosecutors, defence representatives and other interested parties on proposals to replace the New Sentences - Criminal Justice Act 2003 definitive guideline 'see link below at' (PDF 1) with a guideline for the Imposition of Community and Custodial Sentences. The... More
    Closed 25 February 2016

  • Consultation on Moving Wisbech Work to Cambridgeshire

    In 2011, following a consultation, HM Courts’ Service merged the Local Justice Areas of Peterborough and Fenland and closed the courthouse in Wisbech. As a result of responses to the consultation, it was directed that criminal cases from Wisbech and six surrounding parishes should be heard at Kings’ Lynn magistrate’s court, which is 14 miles from Wisbech, rather than Peterborough magistrates court, which is 22 miles away. In the ensuing years this arrangement has led... More
    Closed 8 January 2016

  • Costs protection in environmental claims

    The consultation is aimed at those who may be involved in or affected by environmental legal challenges in England and Wales falling within the scope of the amendments made by the Public Participation Directive (2003/35/EC) (the relevant amendments have now been incorporated into recast versions of the Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU) and the EIA Directive (2011/92/EU)) or within the scope of the Aarhus Convention. This consultation is an opportunity for you to have your say on... More
    Closed 10 December 2015

  • Judicial Appointments Commission Welsh Language Scheme (English version)

    This paper sets out for consultation the JAC's proposed Welsh Language Scheme. The consultation is aimed at those with an interest in judicial appointments, including the judiciary, potential candidates, legal professional bodies and groups with Welsh interests. This voluntary, specialised scheme has been developed to better specify how we treat the Welsh and English languages when using our independent approach to assessing candidates’ suitability for judicial appointment in Wales. It... More
    Closed 4 December 2015

  • Enhancing the Quality of Criminal Advocacy

    The Government has issued a consultation paper (Preserving and Enhancing the Quality of Criminal Advocacy) setting out a package of measures to ensure the quality of criminal defence advocacy, reducing the influence of financial incentives on choice of advocate and support clients’ rights to make an informed choice of advocate. The Government has a responsibility to ensure the delivery of an efficient, fair and effective justice system in which the public has confidence and therefore has... More
    Closed 27 November 2015

  • Proposal on the provision of court and tribunal estate in England and Wales

    This is a national consultation on the provision of the court and tribunal estate in England and Wales. HM Courts & Tribunals Service manages the operation of courts and tribunals through seven regions in England and Wales and the consultation includes annexes covering London, the Midlands, the North East, the North West, the South East, the South West and Wales. To provide users with an overview of all proposed change to the estate, the consultation also includes information on where... More
    Closed 8 October 2015

  • Amendments to Family Procedure Rules – Vulnerable Witnesses and Children

    In June 2014 the President of the Family Division established the Vulnerable Witnesses & Children Working Group to look at how a child can participate in family proceedings and the provision for the identification of vulnerable witnesses. The Working Group published its report in March 2015 after extensive consultation. The report included a set of draft model Rules and asked the Family Procedure Rule Committee to consider urgently whether, and if so how, the recommendation and draft Rules... More
    Closed 25 September 2015

  • Enhanced fees for divorce, possession claims and general applications in civil proceedings and consultation on further fees proposal

    This sets out the government response to the consultation on enhanced fees for possession claims and general applications in civil proceedings, and we are also seeking responses to further proposals for consultation. As the Lord Chancellor set out recently, we are seeking to modernise HMCTS and improve its efficiency. We need a properly funded service that protects access to justice and if we are to achieve that whilst reducing the cost of the courts and tribunals to the taxpayer we... More
    Closed 15 September 2015

  • Reform of Judicial Review: Proposals for the provision and use of financial information

    Judicial review is a process by which individuals, businesses and other affected parties can challenge the lawfulness of decisions or actions of public bodies, including those of Ministers, local authorities and those exercising public functions. It is a largely judge-developed process and can be characterised as the rule of law in action, providing a key mechanism for individuals to hold the Executive to account. More
    Closed 15 September 2015

  • A consultation on the merger of the Sussex (Northern) and Sussex (Western) Local Justice Areas

    The aim of this consultation is find views on proposals to merge the Local Justice Areas of Sussex (Northern) and Sussex (Western) into one new West Sussex Local Justice Area. This will give greater flexibility in managing the caseload across West Sussex whilst increasing the opportunities for magistrates to sit on a broader range of cases on a regular basis and maintain experience and thus competence. It aims to reduce delays, and provide a more consistent service to court users. There... More
    Closed 14 September 2015

  • Consultation on the merger of the Local Justice Areas in Greater Manchester

    This consultation sets out a proposal on the future arrangements for Local Justice Areas (LJA’s) in Greater Manchester. There are 3 key reasons for considering a merger of the current 8 LJA’s: to improve the effectiveness of the delivery of justice by improving flexibility in dealing with cases to make better use of reduced resources to increase the opportunities for magistrates to retain experience and thus competence The Judicial Business Group (JBG)... More
    Closed 14 September 2015

  • DNA Testing in private family law (children) cases

    This consultation relates to proposed changes to the Blood Tests (Evidence of Paternity) Regulations 1971 (“the 1971 Regulations”) [1] . The consultation relates to possible changes to the definition of “sampler”, and what a sampler must do. The consultation is required to inform possible amendments to the 1971 Regulations to support the roll-out of a scheme for the funding of DNA testing in private family law (children) cases in England and Wales. [1] ... More
    Closed 21 August 2015

  • Proposed amendments to the Allocation guideline

    The Sentencing Council is seeking feedback from sentencers, justices’ clerks, legal advisers, prosecutors, defence representatives and other court users on proposals to update the definitive Allocation guideline. The consultation runs for six weeks. This is a shorter period than is customary for Sentencing Council consultations. The reasons for this are: the consultation relates to a concise, technical guideline likely to be of interest only to those directly concerned with... More
    Closed 31 July 2015

  • Proposals for further reforms to court fees

    In Part 1 of the Government response to the consultation ' Court fees: proposals for reform ', we set out our decision to consider alternatives to the proposed fee increase for divorce. However, whilst we have decided not to proceed with the divorce proposal, this has not changed the financial imperative to increase income to the courts from fees. Therefore, the Government Response also seeks views on proposals to increase: the fees to commence applications for the recovery of... More
    Closed 27 February 2015

  • Health and safety offences, corporate manslaughter and food safety and hygiene offences guidelines

    The Council is consulting on the draft guidelines for sentencing health and safety, corporate manslaughter and food safety offences. The Council is not consulting on the legislation that establishes these offences, which is a matter for Parliament. Equally, issues that are the responsibility of the relevant regulatory bodies, such as wider enforcement policy or the decision to bring a prosecution, are outside of the scope of this consultation. The Council is keen to seek as many views... More
    Closed 18 February 2015
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