“Contempt proceedings are to begin against a juror who allegedly contacted a defendant through Facebook during a drugs trial, causing it to collapse.”
BBC News, 20th April 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
from the Inner Temple Library
“Contempt proceedings are to begin against a juror who allegedly contacted a defendant through Facebook during a drugs trial, causing it to collapse.”
BBC News, 20th April 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“A defendant who was told by a judge to “shut your mouth and listen” just before he had to give evidence on why he had two knives in his car has had his subsequent convictions overturned.”
Daily Telegraph, 8th April 2011
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“A man given a criminal record and a £500 fine for failing to respond to a jury summons sent to the wrong address has been cleared by an appeal judge.”
BBC News, 4th April 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“The justice secretary, Ken Clarke, warned newspaper editors on Tuesday not to risk contempt of court with excessive reporting of suspects in police investigations.”
The Guardian, 15th March 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The media could be prevented from naming people arrested by the police but not yet charged, the attorney general has told the BBC.”
BBC News, 15th March 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“Linking to prejudicial past material could damage the integrity of criminal trials, online publishers warned.”
The Guardian, 4th March 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The Sun and the Daily Mail have been found guilty of contempt of court for publishing a picture of a murder trial defendant posing with a gun on their websites.”
The Guardian, 3rd March 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Read the judgment from the high court finding the Mail Online and Sun Online guilty of contempt after publishing online image of accused man with pistol during murder trial.”
The Guardian, 3rd March 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Law Society v McPhail [2011] WLR (D) 45
“In the interests of fairness, a person charged with contempt of court whose liberty was therefore at stake should be able to appear at a hearing to answer points raised by his accusers.”
WLR Daily, 14th February 2011
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
“A London woman who sent her teenage son to their native Nigeria because she disapproved of his lifestyle has been jailed for eight months.”
BBC News, 14th February 2011
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Hydropool Hot Tubs Ltd v Roberjot and another [2011] EWHC 121 (Ch); [2011] WLR (D) 38
“CPR r 32.14 had no application to an allegation of contempt by knowingly swearing a false affidavit.”
WLR Daily, 7th February 2011
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“CCC, which has history of British political donations, failed to comply with court orders freezing its assets.”
The Guardian, 2nd February 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Attorney general argues pictures of murder trial defendant ‘posing with a gun’ created risk of prejudice in court case.”
The Guardian, 2nd February 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ex parte MGN Ltd and others [2011] WLR (D) 17
“It was rarely appropriate to impose blanket reporting restrictions under section 4(2) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 for the purpose of ameliorating the disadvantages of giving evidence and minimising the burdens faced by witnesses in criminal trials. The protection of witnesses was more appropriately provided for by the provisions of section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and sections 22–30 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.”
WLR Daily, 26th January 2011
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“UK law on contempt applies to any publication that creates ‘a substantial risk’ of prejudicing the course of justice.”
The Guardian, 10th January 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“BNP leader Nick Griffin has fought off a bid to have him declared guilty of contempt of court.”
BBC News, 17th December 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“BNP leader Nick Griffin will learn today whether he has been found guilty of contempt of court. The Equality and Human Rights Commission accused him at the high court of failing to comply with a county court judgment ordering the removal of potentially racist clauses from his party’s constitution.”
The Guardian, 17th December 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
JSC BTA Bank v Kythreotis and others [2010] EWCA Civ 1436; [2010] WLR (D) 326
“The words ‘his assets’ in the standard form of freezing order in the Commercial Court Guide included assets which the respondent to the order held as a trustee or nominee for a third party.”
WLR Daily, 14th December 2010
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“The Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC MP, has delivered the Criminal Bar Association’s Kalisher lecture entitled ‘Contempt of Court: why it still matters’.”
Attorney General’s Office, 12th October 2010
Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk
“The Attorney General has said that operators of websites should be responsible for comments made by visitors to their sites that prejudice trials. Dominic Grieve said that he wants ‘further discussions’ on site owners’ liability.”
OUT-LAW.com, 14th October 2010
Source: www.out-law.com
“The attorney general has dismissed calls to scrap laws that prevent publication of prejudicial information about unconvicted defendants.”
The Guardian, 14th October 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“A teenager was told by a judge today that she had ‘let down her generation’ by jeopardising two trials after sending text messages to another jury member while on jury service.”
The Guardian, 13h July 2010
“Fresh from its disastrous showing at the ballot box on 6 May, the British National party now faces financial turmoil with its assets threatened by court action. The high court is to decide whether Nick Griffin and two other BNP officials should face contempt of court proceedings in which their assets could be confiscated under a ‘writ of sequestration’. The assets include Griffin’s MEP salary, investments and pensions and any property that they might own. The case shows that no political party is above the law.”
The Guardian, 28th June 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The law firm Carter-Ruck has made a fresh move that could stop an MPs’ debate next week by claiming a controversial injunction it has obtained is ‘sub judice’.”
The Guardan, 16th October 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Regina (Bates) v Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Queen’s Bench Divisional Court
“A court order requiring the police to return items seized under a search warrant could not be enforced because no time had been set for compliance with the order.”
The Times, 21st July 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Slade v Slade [2009] EWCA Civ 748; [2009] WLR (D) 248
“When a court was sentencing a contemnor for conduct which had already been the subject of sentencing founded upon a criminal conviction it was essential that the second court should be fully informed of the factors and circumstances reflected in the first sentence.”
WLR Daily, 20th July 2009
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“A chief constable was criticised by three judges today for defying a high court order to return computer hard drives containing evidence of suspected child abuse to an expert witness.”
The Guardian, 16th June 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Judges’ decision in a contempt of court case against The Times strengthens the campaign for reform of an indefensible law, argues David Pannick, QC.”
The Times, 28th May 2009
Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk
“A chief constable could face jail and an end to his 35-year police career for defying a High Court order to return computers suspected of holding a huge collection of child abuse images to a controversial expert witness.”
The Times, 27th May 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“A jury foreman and the publishers of The Times were found guilty of contempt of court yesterday for reporting how the jurors in a manslaughter trial reached their verdict.”
The Times, 13th May 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“The Attorney-General began legal proceedings against The Times yesterday, alleging that the newspaper was in contempt of court for reporting how a jury had reached its verdict.”
The Times, 9th April 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
In re B (Minors) (Contact order: Enforcement)
Court of Appeal
“Where a local authority was in breach of a contact order, it was enforceable by committal for contempt of court.”
The Times, 19th March 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
In re B (Minors) (Contact Order: Enforcement); [2009] WLR (D) 73
“A contact order made under s 34 of the Children Act 1989 in the county court was enforceable by committal for contempt of court, and the court had jurisdiction to attach to a penal notice directed to the local authority in whose care the relevant child was.”
WLR Daily, 2nd March 2009
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
“Permission has been granted to launch contempt of court proceedings against a newspaper publisher and a jury foreman who told ‘secrets of the jury room’.”
BBC News, 20th January 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“A juror who faced jail after posting details of a trial on Facebook is to escape court action.”
Daily Telegraph, 16th December 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
In re Times Newspapers Ltd and Another
Courts-Martial Appeal Court
“To be entitled to make any order for anonymity for all or any of a number of defendants in a case in which no applicable statute provided a power justifying such an order, a court had to have regard to the relevant tests identified at common law, namely, whether, absent such an order, the administration of justice would be seriously affected or there was a real and immediate risk to the life of any of the defendants.”
The Times, 31st October 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
In re Times Newspapers Ltd and another [2008] EWCA Crim 2396; [2008] WLR (D) 331
“For a court to order the anonymisation of defendants’ names in a case in which no applicable statute provided a power justifying such an order, careful regard would have to be had to the relevant tests identified at common law, viz whether, absent such an order, the administration of justice would be seriously affected or there was a real and immediate risk to the life of any of the defendants.”
WLR Daily, 28th October 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
Regina v M (Restraint order: Jurisdiction)
Court of Appeal
“A trial judge did have jurisdiction to try an application by the prosecution for a defendant to be committed for contempt for allegedly breaching a restraint order.”
The Times, 24th October 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
“Where a defendant in criminal proceedings was said to have breached a restraint order, imposed under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, by making certain prohibited transactions a judge of the Crown Court had jurisdiction to try an application made by the prosecution for the defendant to be committed for contempt.”
WLR Daily, 1st September 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“Special Forces soldiers who die in action could be named in inquests after a coroner overturned a ruling to allow the identification of two dead troops.”
Daily Telegraph, 29th July 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
“Defendants who failed to attend court in response to a summons should not be convicted and sentenced for offences under the Bail Act 1976 or for contempt of court if they were not on bail and/or had received no notice of the summons.”
The Times, 21st July 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
“The former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, tells Law in Action that archived internet stories bearing on pending criminal cases should be removed from the web.”
BBC Law in Action, 19th February 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Lexi Holdings plc (in Administration) v Luqman
Chancery Division
“Permission of the sentencing judge was not required before granting an application for the grant of temporary release on licence by a prisoner serving a term of imprisonment for civil contempt.”
The Times, 19th February 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
Lexi Holdings plc (in administration) v Luqman
“Para 5.2 of Prison Service Order 6300 was unlawful in so far as it purported to require the permission of the sentencing judge before granting the temporary release of a prisoner serving a term of imprisonment for civil contempt.”
WLR Daily, 17th January 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“A chip shop worker who won £1m on a national lottery scratchcard in October has been jailed for contempt of court after she flew off on holiday instead of appearing as a witness in a criminal trial.”
The Guardian, 11th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The attorney general has decided not to take action against a Muslim juror who allegedly listened to music during a murder trial.”
BBC News, 16th August 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
In re Times Newspapers Ltd and others [2007] EWCA Crim 1925
“A judge in a criminal trial had power to prevent publication of a question and answer exchange which took place in open court but which should have taken place in camera. Publication of speculation as to the content of evidence that was given in camera could constitute a contempt of court.”
WLR Daily, 30th July 2007
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
Contempt warning about speculation in press
In re Times Newspapers Ltd and Others
Court of Appeal
“A judge in a criminal trial could prohibit the publication of a question-and answer-exchange that took place in open court when it should have occurred in camera. The publication of speculation as to the content of evidence that was given in camera could amount to a contempt of court.”
The Times, 31st July 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
“A woman who was thrown off a murder trial jury for allegedly listening to an MP3 player while the accused was giving evidence appeared in court today.”
The Guardian, 23rd July 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
No contempt in publishing hearing in private
Court of Appeal
“It was not a contempt of court to publish information relating to proceedings sitting in private unless that information fell within one of the statutory-specific categories.”
The Times, 11th July 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note: the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online 21 days from the date of publication
“A contempt of court ruling in an Official Secrets Act trial at the Old Bailey created a ‘nonsensical situation’ for the media, a QC said yesterday.”
The Times, 11th July 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Contempt of court action will be taken later this year against a Sunday newspaper over a story it ran shortly before the Angelika Kluk murder trial.”
BBC News, 4th July 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“The publication of information concerning proceedings before a court sitting in private did not constitute contempt of court unless that information came within a category specified in s12(1) of the Administration of Justice Act 1960 as amended or the court expressly prohibited that publication.”
WLR Daily, 2nd July 2007
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.