Below are speeches and blogs, mainly on the subjects of human rights and access to justice, both in relation to the UK and internationally. These are in addition to journalism published elsewhere.
Just before Christmas, on 20 December, the UN General Assembly passed unanimously a resolution on the principles and guidelines that states should follow in relation to criminal legal aid. The UK, so truculent in EU negotiations on suspects’ rights in the European Union, joined the general consensus that, no doubt,...
Ten Lessons for Legal Aid Contracting from Chile Roger Smith This article supplements the comprehensive account of public criminal defence in Chile given by a Chilean public defender, Carolina Rudnick, in the last edition of the ILAG newsletter. Chile has, since 2000, established a whole new system of criminal...
David Cameron is seeking the opportunity to remove the obligation to publish equality impact assessments on new legislation. No wonder. The legal aid cuts were largely directed specifically against women in terms of removing assistance on matters relating to the breakdown of relationships. As the equality impact statement that the...
Secret evidence Speech to Bar Council 10 November 2012 My topic is the Justice and Security Bill currently before the House of Lords. The Bill returns for its report stage on Monday week, 19th November. In advance of this, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights will publish its...
