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Proceeding contribution from Lord Thomas of Gresford (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 27 February 2008. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill.


Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

The mischief of the clause as drafted is that it gives no guidance as to how the discretion of the court is to be exercised, so it causes problems to the commission. The commission has said, no doubt to the Government, that it would not know when it would be appropriate to bring forward a case. Speaking as a practitioner, I believe that trying to advise a client as to the circumstances in which the court may, "““think it appropriate in all the circumstances of the case””," to do a particular thing would be impossible. The words ““substantial injustice”” at least give some guidance as to the advice that would be given on the action that might be taken by the commission. As the noble and learned Lord, Lord Lloyd, said, that issue has now been resolved by the Court of Appeal and this clause is completely unnecessary.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
699 c690-1 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Disability Children Criminal proceedings Appeals Armed forces Crimes of violence Age Alternatives to prison HIV/AIDS Discrimination Offenders Parole Prisoners Life imprisonment Police cautions Prisoners' release Rehabilitation Sentencing Young people Sexual offences Young offenders Reoffenders
Legislation
Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill 2006-07 to 2007-08
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk