Chapter 5: Roles played by different groups Flashcards
In January 2016, what did the Justice Minister announce?
In January 2016, the Justice Minister announced that the government was scrapping changes it had intended to make to Legal Aid funding
What does Legal Aid do?
Legal Aid helps those with limited means to gain legal:
1. Advice
2. Representation
in court
Who was the Legal Aid campaign led by?
The Legal Aid campaign was led by the legal profession
What did the Legal Aid campaign include?
The Legal Aid campaign included:
- A day’s walk out from court sessions
- Marches in many major cities
The Legal Aid campaign included a day’s walk out from court sessions and marches in many major cities.
Example
For example:
1. Lawyers
2. Others
protesting in Manchester about the proposed changes
The Legal Aid campaign included a day’s walk out from court sessions and marches in many major cities.
For example, lawyers and others protesting in Manchester about the proposed changes.
What did the methods used by this protest include?
The methods used by this protest included:
- Lobbying MPs and government ministers
- Seeking media attention
- Writing to newspapers
- Using their professional bodies to lobby government
- Taking direct action, such as organised marches and the walk-out from the courts
The Legal Aid campaign included a day’s walk out from court sessions and marches in many major cities.
For example, lawyers and others protesting in Manchester about the proposed changes.
One of the methods used by this protest included using their professional bodies to lobby government.
What are their professional bodies?
Legal Aid’s professional bodies are the:
- Law Society
- Bar Council
- Criminal Bar Council
The Legal Aid campaign included a day’s walk out from court sessions and marches in many major cities.
For example, lawyers and others protesting in Manchester about the proposed changes.
Clearly, the Legal Aid campaign is an example of what?
Clearly, the Legal Aid campaign is an example of successful action by professional bodies leading to a government reversing a policy proposal
What does the case of the Guildford Four relate to?
The case of the Guildford Four relates to 4 people who were:
- Arrested in 1974
- Accused of being involved in an IRA bombing in Guildford, in which 5 people were killed
The case of the Guildford Four relates to 4 people who were arrested in 1974 and accused of being involved in an IRA bombing in Guildford, in which 5 people were killed.
Who was one of those arrested?
One of those arrested was Gerry Conlon, a Belfast-born 20 year old at the time
The case of the Guildford Four relates to 4 people who were arrested in 1974 and accused of being involved in an IRA bombing in Guildford, in which 5 people were killed.
One of those arrested was Gerry Conlon, a Belfast-born 20 year old at the time.
What was he sentenced to?
Gerry Conlon was sentenced to life imprisonment on the basis of false confessions made after days of mistreatment by the police
Gerry Conlon was sentenced to life imprisonment on the basis of false confessions made after days of mistreatment by the police.
What did the Court of Appeal do, in 1989?
In 1989, the Court of Appeal overturned the convictions
Gerry Conlon was sentenced to life imprisonment on the basis of false confessions made after days of mistreatment by the police.
In 1989, the Court of Appeal overturned the convictions.
What did Gerry Conlon do, on his release?
On his release, Gerry Conlon:
- Stood outside the High Court in London
- Promised to fight to clear others who had been wrongly accused
Gerry Conlon was sentenced to life imprisonment on the basis of false confessions made after days of mistreatment by the police.
In 1989, the Court of Appeal overturned the convictions.
What told his story, in 1993?
In 1993, a film ‘In the Name of the Father’ told Gerry Conlon’s story
Gerry Conlon was sentenced to life imprisonment on the basis of false confessions made after days of mistreatment by the police.
In 1989, the Court of Appeal overturned the convictions.
What did he and others do, in 1991?
In 1991:
1. Gerry Conlon
2. Others
formed a pressure group to fight against miscarriages of justice, called:
‘The Miscarriages of Justice Organisation’ (Mojo)
In 1997, Gerry Conlon was given what?
In 1997, Gerry Conlon was given £546,000 in compensation
In 1997, Gerry Conlon was given £546,000 in compensation.
What happened in 2005?
In 2005, the Prime Minister Tony Blair gave him a personal apology, which included, ‘‘Everyone thinks this happens to other people, but it’s closer than you think
Who’s to say you’re not next?
Look at Sally Clarke
She was a solicitor and she drank herself to death after she was wrongly convicted of killing her two sons’’
In 1983, Victoria Gillick, a mother of 10 children, wanted to do what?
In 1983, Victoria Gillick, a mother of 10 children, wanted to stop doctors prescribing contraception to under 16-year-olds
In 1983, Victoria Gillick, a mother of 10 children, wanted to stop doctors prescribing contraception to under 16-year-olds.
What did she use to fight her case?
Victoria Gillick used the legal system to fight her case, as well as a public campaign
In 1983, Victoria Gillick, a mother of 10 children, wanted to stop doctors prescribing contraception to under 16-year-olds.
Victoria Gillick used the legal system to fight her case, as well as a public campaign.
How many MPs supported her demands?
Over 200 MPs supported Victoria Gillick’s demands
In 1983, Victoria Gillick, a mother of 10 children, wanted to stop doctors prescribing contraception to under 16-year-olds.
What was she granted to fight her case?
Victoria Gillick was granted legal aid to fight her case
In 1983, Victoria Gillick, a mother of 10 children, wanted to stop doctors prescribing contraception to under 16-year-olds.
What did she receive?
Victoria Gillick received:
- Thousands of letters of support
- The backing of the National Housewives Association and its 25,000 members
In 1983, Victoria Gillick, a mother of 10 children, wanted to stop doctors prescribing contraception to under 16-year-olds.
What did the High Court eventually do?
The High Court eventually:
- Ruled against her
- Rejected her request to stop the government prescribing contraception to under 16-year-olds, saying that doctors can give contraception to under 16-year-olds without parental consent
In 1983, Victoria Gillick, a mother of 10 children, wanted to stop doctors prescribing contraception to under 16-year-olds.
In this case, even with political support, who had the final say?
In this case, even with political support, the courts had the final say