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UK explores tougher laws on AI chatbots
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has told MPs that AI chatbots could be more tightly regulated in the UK over concerns they could encourage teenagers to commit acts of self-harm. The Online Safety Act was written before the rise of generative AI and Kendall said she wants to make sure bots such as ChatGPT do not…
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Rape victims to get courtroom protection
New reforms in England and Wales will protect rape victims from being portrayed as liars in court. Justice Secretary David Lammy stated that the changes address the “profound injustice” faced by victims, who often feel on trial themselves. Under the new laws, “bad character” evidence related to a victim’s past will be restricted unless there…
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Barristers clash over TikTok antics
Seasoned barristers have slammed younger members of the profession for using TikTok and Instagram to gain followers. Senior barristers have expressed outrage over what they see as inappropriate content, including selfies from inside court and comical videos. One veteran barrister stated: “It’s wildly inappropriate to try to reconcile the kind of facile frivolity you see…
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Lammy set to announce radical shake-up of criminal courts
David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, is expected to announce plans to eliminate jury trials for thousands of cases, including assaults and drug offences, to address a backlog of nearly 80,000 cases. Lammy is justifying the change by focussing on victims and their delayed justice, but he’s receiving intense pushback from the profession. Critics have said…
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Jury trial reforms face backlash
Justice Secretary David Lammy’s proposal to eliminate jury trials for offences with potential jail sentences under five years faces significant opposition in the House of Lords. The reforms, which have been put forward as ministers look to reduce a backlog in the courts, would affect various crimes, including burglary and fraud. Lord Goldsmith, a former…
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Jury reforms could impact 95% of criminal cases
With a leaked memo revealing that Justice Secretary David Lammy is considering reforms that would scrap jury trials for most offences – apart from murder, rape or manslaughter cases – Criminal Bar Association (CBA) analysis shows that this would mean around 95% of criminal cases would not be heard before jurors. The proposal for a…
