News

New counter-terrorism powers proposed by the UK government have been criticised by a Westminster committee as being too vaguely defined and lacking safeguards to protect human rights.In its report, the Joint Select Committee on Human Rights said that it doubts whether the&nb

Two members of the Faculty of Advocates are heading overseas after securing prestigious appointments. Almira Delibegovic-Broome QC, is taking up a position as a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School in the US, while advocate Jacqueline Fordyce is to be a visiting professional in the chamb

A petition calling for the release of a Turkish lawyer and Aberdeen University graduate has received more than 3,100 signatures. On 4th July 2018 Dr Hanifi Bariş was arrested in Istanbul. He was charged with "posting items of criminal content” on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The Court of Session has recently confirmed that there is no ban on fracking in Scotland following a challenge by Ineos Upstream Limited (“Ineos”) and Reach Coal Seam Gas Limited (“Reach”). Jennifer White looks at the case. Ineos and Reach had sought an applica

Geoffrey Cox QC MP has replaced Jeremy Wright QC as Attorney General for England and Wales. Mr Cox, who earned £460,000 from legal work last year, reportedly voted to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum.

Autistic people are being let down by the criminal justice system in England and Wales, writes Graeme Hydari. Despite receiving guidance, many of the judiciary and magistracy do not have a basic understanding of autism spectrum disorder, which is a developmental condition that cannot be treated or i

Judith Higson has joined Scullion LAW’s family law team as an associate director, enhancing its collaborative practice expertise. Ms Higson has 15 years' experience practising family law and is an accredited family law specialist, an accredited child law specialist, an accredited family l

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced a series of measures to crack down on crime and violence in English and Welsh prisons, including the wider roll-out of in-cell telephones.Justice Secretary David Gauke revealed the new scheme and other initiatives as he announced a £30

President Donald Trump has nominated Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court, describing him as a "brilliant jurist". Mr Kavanaugh, a District of Columbia appeals court judge, formerly advised ex-President, George W Bush.

The number of people in Scotland handed warrants for failing to pay council tax has risen by almost 40 per cent in the last five years, according to new figures obtained by Scottish Labour. A summary warrant is issued by sheriff officers at the point that a person has failed to respond to the counci

A “significant number” of additional institutions are to come under scrutiny as part of Scotland's investigation into child abuse, inquiry lead Lady Smith has said. Currently the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry is looking at 70 institutions, among them boarding schools and children's h

Two associates at Inverness-based Innes & Mackay have been promoted to the role of director. Sarah Lilley trained in Aberdeen and qualified as a solicitor in 2008. She practised family law in Edinburgh for four years before moving to Inverness and joining Innes & Mackay in July 2012. Sh

Amy Entwistle explores the details of recently enacted community empowerment provisions. Last month saw reports of the completion of the transfer to the North West Mull Community Woodland Company of the Island of Ulva.  North West Mull Community Woodland Company is a Community Body (more below)

Govan Law Centre has lodged an appeal at the Sheriff Appeal Court in a rent arrears case challenging the "regressive practice" by social landlords in Glasgow of preventing tenants from recalling eviction decrees. Rachel Moon, senior solicitor at Govanhill Law Centre who represented the defendant in&