I have an interest in American (US) and English Law, particularly the history thereof. One particularly difficult aspect to this is terminology as it is often bound up in the respective histories. Terminology was probably consistent up to the Commonwealth era but then it started to diverge, which is probably to be expected. The problem […]
Introduction The Justice Select Committee had been requested by the CCRC to investigate the use and safety of Private Prosecutions in England. This is now one of their current inquiries. The background to this inquiry is the referral of a number of Subpostmasters. On July 7th there was a public evidence gathering session. This session
During the American Revolutionary War, the Patriots in Boston formed a Committee of Safety to organize the campaign against the Crown. The Committee was known to Thomas Gage. The Boston Committee of Safety is the most notable. To my modern eyes the use of the word Safety leaves me somewhat bemused. Today it is more of an
In a previous post I quoted Justin Brooks, from the California Innocence Project, saying that over 95% of criminal cases in California end up with a Plea Bargain. This is where the prosecutor and your attorney agree a crime that you admit and a sentence you will receive. The benefits to the state are significant
The Bystander attended a very interesting event in London on 30th July 2019. The main speaker was none other than Justin Brooks, co founder and director of the California Innocence Project (#XONR8). By a video link was Brian Banks, their most famous exoneree. Everyone was excited about a forthcoming movie which tells the Brian Banks story,
This blog will contain various thoughts about legal matters in Europe and other countries. The name of the blog (Officious Bystander) is borrowed from the legal profession, if you google the term you will find it to be quite popular. It is a legal device, there is postulated to be a person who encounters two