A useful resource

This may be interesting for those of you interest in the law. As reported in the Observer, the proceeddings of the Old Bailey between 1674 and 1913 are now available online here.

Go and have a look, all rather interesting.

RS

Vigilantism

Isn't this story rather depressing? Doesn't it say a lot about so many things? That we actually need to remind people not to take the administration of ''justice'' into their own hands...

RS

Saudi Probe

One of my most furious pieces came in December 2006 over the Attorney General's intervention in the SFO's investigation into alleged corruption by BAE.

It is good news indeed that this ruling has come through. I wonder if that means the SFO will re-invigorate their investigation? Or would that be against the national interest?

Lunchtime edit: An update here. Some lovely quotes:

''... is difficult to identify any integrity in the role of the courts to uphold the rule of law, if the courts are to abdicate in response to a threat from a foreign power''

''It is difficult to identify any integrity in the role of the courts to uphold the rule of law, if the courts are to abdicate in response to a threat from a foreign power''

And: “We fear for the administration of justice if it can be perverted by a threat.”

He concluded: “No one, whether within this country or outside, is entitled to interfere with the course of justice.”

Quite.

RS

Legalese

I tend not to post on the topic of law - largely because it is rather boring for all you readers. I can't imagine many of you flock to hear my opinions on anything at all, let alone my feelings on the efficacy of the 'Not Proven' verdict or my general thoughts on modern jurisprudence.

That said, from time to time, on a slow news day, I will blog about law. I turn Snob's Corner away from the good-honest swearbloggery that we all know and are mildly affectionate about towards the cretinous, turdigity of a blawg.

So here we go. Firstly, a wander over the Irish Sea to Norn Iron. This restorative justice scheme is, to me at least, very interesting. Not flawless, by any measure, but certainly interesting and perhaps very useful when set in the wider social context of Northern Ireland.

Secondly, we go to the 'Have your say section' of the Beeb's website. We all know why we send people to jail - to protect the public from further harm, to deter others from committing a crime, to help rehabilitate said offender (and trust that this will lead to lower recidivism rates) and to punish the offender for breaking society's laws. In my fairly extensive dealings with fairly hardened criminals, I'm not sure many take into account the possible severity of a future punishment.

When we consider that many young people who carry guns are gang-affiliated and presumably think that there life is in danger because of this carrying a weapon must seem a fairly sensible thing to do. Maybe if we examine the reasons why young people join gangs and/or feel the need to carry weapons we may be better off.

Finally, just as Scotland has it's eyes on Berwick it looks like we may be losing Shetland. Alas...

RS

Law School For Dummies

A week old but brilliant nonetheless.

Brazil's lawyers have been shocked to find that a boy aged eight has managed to pass the entrance exam to law school.

Really? They have an awfully high opinion of themselves these Brazilian lawyers. I would imagine that a great number of eight year olds could scrape into law school...

Still, I'm not sure I like the thought of young Jaoa Victor Portellinho:

''My dream is to be a federal judge," the boy said, according to Globo TV's Web site.

Dear oh dear...

RS

PS - a great post from The Onion.

PPS - Please have a look at the Freakonomics Blog - thoughtprovoking throughout.