On the 6 September 2013 the Secretary of State for Justice published further proposals to reform judicial review. Both the Civil and Housing Team have submitted responses to this further consultation.
Taken together it is the view of both teams that the proposed reforms represent a profound and constitutionally significant attack on the ability of individuals, charities and NGOs to access judicial review. The proposals also contain proposals which represent a sustained attack on the availability of civil legal aid and are an attempt to drive a wrecking ball through the provision of legal services for poor and vulnerable people through intimidation by use of swingeing cost measures. The proposals demonstrate, in our view, that the Government distrusts the judiciary and are designed to insulate Government and Public Bodies from judicial and Parliamentary scrutiny thereby undermining the rule of law and the independence of the courts.
To read the responses of the Housing and Civil Teams click on the links below
