Topic: Under attack: disabled peoples access to justice. Update on what is happening and how we can respond
Speakers: Nick Armstrong: Barrister Matrix Chambers; Ravi Low-Beer: The Public Law Project and disability rights campaigners (tbc)
From LAG’s website:
The independent commission established by LAG and led by the cross-bench peer Lord Low has published its report today, 9th January. The Commission is calling for urgent reforms to ensure ordinary people can get the help they need to deal with employment, debt, housing and other social welfare law problems.
This report is taken largely from the Joint select Committee’s own pages at Parliament.uk
The Court of Appeal today (4 December 2013) rejected the Government’s appeal against a landmark ruling by the Upper Tribunal that the Work Capability Assessment discriminates against people with mental health problems. Ravi Low-Beer, of The Public Law Project, acted as the claimant’s solicitor.
PLP have made a written submission in response to the JCHR’s call for further evidence into the implications for access to justice of the Government’s proposals to reform legal aid, this time by examining some of the Government’s proposals to reform judicial review (as set out in its Consultation Paper Judicial Review: Proposals for further reform).
The Administrative Court has published new guidance for parties seeking costs orders from the Administrative Court in settled judicial review claims. The guidance was published on 14th November and came into force on 20th November 2013. Lawyers at Doughty Street Chambers have written to the Court to raise serious concerns over the content and status of the guidance. The letter is backed by charities including The Howard League, PLP and Rights Watch UK.
The Public Law Project has signed a joint letter from Justcie Alliance and added to the list of statements being taken to Nick Clegg MP…
The Joint Committee on Human Rights, chaired by Dr Hywel Francis MP, is extending its inquiry into the implications for access to justice of the Government’s proposals to reform legal aid, by examining also some of the Government’s proposals to reform judicial review, as set out in its Consultation Paper Judicial Review: Proposals for further reform.
The Public Law Project has published its full response to the Government consultation ‘Judicial Review: Proposals for further reform’.
On 29 October, the policy team at the Ministry of Justice held a web chat offering an opportunity to comment and ask questions on a proposed package of reforms governing the process of judicial review. Richard Mason, Deputy Director – Administrative and Civil Justice, claimed “… There’s actually been a 27% increase in non-immigration and asylum cases – from around 2,300 in 2007 to around 3,000 in 2012…”
Varda Bondy and Maurice Sunkin: How Many JRs are too many? An evidence based response to ‘Judicial Review: Proposals for Further Reform’
The charity is running a campaign ‘Stand up for your right to challenge the Government’