Human Rights and the Courts

Description

Contains the text of the Human Rights Act 1998, the Articles and Protocols together with a concise explanation of key points

This centrally important handbook is of particular throughout 2000 as courts and practitioners working in the courts train for implementation of the Human Rights Act 1998. It focuses on the everyday magistrates’ court jurisdiction (including criminal proceedings, youth courts, civil matters and family proceedings courts) and contains a wealth of information in summary form about:

• The European Convention On Human Rights
• The Human Rights Act 1998
• Key concepts and jargon
• Basic principles and the need for a positive approach
• Comparison and compatibility with UK law
• Convention rights: Article by Article – and in a snapshot
• Working examples and a guide to some everyday procedures
• Key UK and European legal rulings in outline
• The impact on judicial and administrative decision-making
• Human rights in and around the courtroom
• The effect on the family and youth court jurisdictions

Human Rights and the Courts: Bringing Justice Home was devised in consultation with the Lord Chancellor’s Department and Judicial Studies Board, and produced under the auspices of the Justices’ Clerks’ Society. The authors-all experienced lawyers holding senior positions in the Magistrates’ Courts Service-were members of the Working Group which produced the national Human Rights training materials for magistrates and their legal advisers.

Contents

Foreword by the Lord Chancellor

1 Introduction

2 Jargon, Jargon, Jargon

3 Convention Rights

4 Human Rights in Practice

5 Criminal Law and Procedure

6 Human Rights and Family Matters

7 The Convention and Evidence

8 The Convention and Enforcement

9 The Convention and Civil Proceedings

10 The Convention and the Courtroom

11 Human Rights and the Youth Court

Appendix I: The Human Rights Act 1998

Appendix II: A Structured Approach

Index

Reviews

‘With its use of examples, its avoidance of unnecessary jargon, its concise summaries of key points, its highlighting of possible pitfalls and its emphasis on the importance of a positive approach, Human Rights and the Courts provides a helpful and intelligible introduction to the Human Rghts Act 1998. It will be welcomed by all those working within the courts system’: Annabella Scott, Howard League Magazine