Category Archives: News

Falkland Islanders “Better Together”

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Iain Nisbet

Earlier this week, the denizens of the Falkland Islands voted by an overwhelming majority to remain as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom.  This result was not unexpected, but are there any lessons to be learned for our own … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitutional Law, News | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Human Rights for the Commonwealth

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Iain Nisbet

So, the Queen today signed the new Commonwealth Charter, which for the first time in its 64 years history sets out a common vision, values and aims for the organisation, which represents one third of the world’s population. The document … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, News, Politics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Iain Nisbet

The Scottish Government have published their consultation on the draft Bill to introduce same sex marriage in Scotland.  The draft Bill is called the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill and it will be pored over in great detail, no … Continue reading →

Posted in Discrimination, Family Law, News, Scottish Government | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

law will eat itself

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Iain Nisbet

Very exciting news that the Tommy Sheridan pantomime is to continue. The former editor of the News of the World Scotland, Bob Bird, has been charged in connection with Tommy Sheridan’s defamation action. He has been charged with attempting to … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Defamation, News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Begone bastard!

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Iain Nisbet

Michael McMahon MSP has launched a consultation on his proposed Reform of Criminal Verdicts (Scotland) Bill which proposes abolishing the peculiarly Scottish “not proven” verdict in criminal trials – famously described by Sir Walter Scott as “that bastard verdict”.  It also … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, News, Scottish Parliament | Tagged | 2 Comments

UK Govt: equality test score 6 out of 9

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Iain Nisbet

The Equality and Human Rights Commission have published the findings of an investigation into whether the UK Government have complied with their public sector equality duties in various recent policy changes.  The answer?  Mostly yes. To remind ourselves, at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Discrimination, Legal Aid, News | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

What’s in a name?

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Iain Nisbet

The Scottish Government, along with its equivalents in Wales, Northern Ireland and .. um .. the rest of the United Kingdom are consulting on proposals to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes. Standardised packaging is likely to mean no branding, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Intellectual Property, News, Scottish Government | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Max Evans has had a busy week

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Iain Nisbet

Max Evans has had a busy week.  Fresh from being acquitted by a jury of his peers at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, he received a yellow card in today’s Six Nations Ireland v. Scotland test match. Earlier this week, a jury … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Edinburgh, News, Sports Law | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Sheridan shenanigans

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Iain Nisbet

So, Tommy Sheridan has been released from prison after serving one year of a three year sentence.  And thus the well loved politician returns to entertain and agitate. He is to be electronically tagged for the final six months of … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Law, Defamation, News | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Supreme Court rejects AXA appeal

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Iain Nisbet

The Supreme Court has handed down its judgement in the case of AXA Insurance v. Lord Advocate, in which insurance giants and bad losers AXA sought to strike down the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Act 2009 on the basis that … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, News, Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, Supreme Court | Tagged , , | 4 Comments