News

Rap lyrics can no longer be used in court as evidence of criminality under a new California law. The Decriminalising Artistic Expression Act comes after a number of high-profile trials of rappers raised concerns about freedom of expression and racial bias.

The maximum value of claims which can be heard in Northern Ireland's small claims court has been increased from £3,000 to £5,000. The increase was brought forward following consideration of responses to a public consultation on increasing the general civil jurisdiction of the county cour

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has been granted leave from the High Court to exercise its amicus curiae function in a significant case focused on redress for survivors of historic child sexual abuse in schools. As amicus curiae in the case of PD v. The Minister for Education, the wat

ByrneWallace LLP has announced the appointment of Ross Little as a partner in the firm's corporate team. Mr Little has over 20 years’ experience advising Irish and international clients on a range of corporate matters, and over that period advised on many high-profile M&A, public markets a

Judges have a role in effecting social change in Ireland but have to push their own views "to the back of our minds" when making decisions, High Court president Mr Justice David Barniville has said. The judge was joined by Mr Justice Gerard Hogan, Ms Justice Siobhán Phelan, Ms Justice Iseult

Basking sharks have been granted new legal protection in Ireland. New regulations, taking effect today, confer "protected wild animal" status on the basking shark under section 23 of the Wildlife Act 1976.

Birth information and tracing services established under new landmark legislation are now available. The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 provides a right of access to birth certificates, birth and early life information for all persons who were adopted, boarded out, the subject of an illegal

The Attorney General should order a fresh inquest into the murder of Mary McGlinchey in 1987, lawyers acting for her sole immediate living relative have said. Mulholland Law has made representations directly to the Attorney General after "scant documentation received from the coroner for Co Louth an

A major government report has called for more action to divert people with mental health difficulties and addiction problems from the criminal justice sector. The report and recommendations of the high level taskforce established in 2021 to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of peop

David Hardstaff, co-chair of the London Irish Lawyers Association (LILA), has been promoted to partner at his firm, BCL Solicitors LLP. Mr Hardstaff joined the firm as a solicitor in 2015 and has now been appointed as a partner in its serious and general crime team.

A waste management company which refused to deliver a skip to a halting site has been ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to pay €2,000 in compensation for discriminating against Travellers. A man had contacted the company by phone in February 2021 seeking to hire a skip fo

Safely crossing the street will soon no longer be a crime in California. The Freedom to Walk Act, which will become law in the state next January, will repeal the state's long-standing ban on so-called 'jaywalking', CBS reports.

The Judicial Council is, as of today, accepting complaints from members of the public about alleged judicial misconduct. Helen McEntee, the justice minister, has signed an order bringing into operation the remaining provisions of the Judicial Council Act 2019 concerning judicial conduct and ethics.

A public consultation has been launched to seek views on increasing the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) in Northern Ireland, which is currently just 10 years of age. The MACR is the age from which a child can be held criminally responsible for their actions, and can subsequently face t

A court has ordered that thousands of bunnies be destroyed – chocolate ones, that is. German supermarket Lidl has been told by a Swiss court to stop selling its sweet treats since they are too similar to Lindt bunnies and are liable to sow confusion.