Monday Message 29.04.24
Dear colleagues and friends,
We start by thanking all members who attended yesterday’s CBA RASSO Spring Conference at the Inner Temple who made it such an enjoyable day. It was a day for review and renewal but also a day for meeting up with friends.
We thank our speakers: Lord Justice Edis, Dr. Rachel Clement-Tolley, HHJ Patricia Lees, Tracy Ayling KC, Siobhan Blake, Professor Alisdair Gillespie, Professor Cheryl Thomas and Annette Henry KC and in particular our guest speaker “Paula” who spoke with clarity about the direct effect on victims of delays in our criminal justice system.
I personally want to thank our Education & Training Committee who worked with our RASSO Group who supported on the day and of course Aaron Dolan who again was there to weave his magic!
The lectures were recorded and handouts from the RASSO Conference will be available within the next ten days.
Congratulations
We congratulate WICL on their 6th birthday celebrated at a wonderful evening at the Plaisterers’ Hall, London. The keynote speech given by Lady Justice Carr was inspiring and the food and company were dazzling!
Information
Remote Attendance in the Crown Court.
Please see the current National Protocol on Remote Attendance and the Protocol for Cambridge and Peterborough recently issued.
Cambridge & Peterborough Crown Court Protocol
CBA Wellbeing
We announced on Saturday at the Conference the roll-out of the CBA Wellbeing Protocol.
The CBA Judicial Liaison and Wellbeing Committee have invited chambers on the London and South Eastern Circuit to join together and adopt the Wellbeing Protocol and now move to inviting chambers across all Circuits in England & Wales to adopt it. Rather like the unity and solidarity shown during the Barristers’ Action in 2022 we have seen virtually unanimous adoption.
Chambers that sign up will be awarded the CBA Wellbeing Logo to be displayed on their website
Full details are on the website here. You may wish to check that your own chambers is amongst them, should you apolt this protocol, please notify the administrator and download the CBA Wellbeing Logo here.
The BSB Commitment to wellbeing, agreed on 06.10.22 is available here.
These are just some of the quotes from other supportive organisations:
Max Hill KC, 27th July 2023 – CPS
“The CPS acknowledges the overriding objective of the CBA Wellbeing Protocol in seeking to ensure that the criminal Bar continues to offer a flexible and professional public service, whilst also creating and sustaining safe and healthy working environments.”
Women In Criminal Law
“WICL welcomes measures to protect and promote the wellbeing of all court users. In particular, we support our members who choose to adopt and follow the CBA Wellbeing Protocol.”
LCCSA
Support from LCCSA President Edward Jones, who agreed to the following statement on their behalf:
“The LCCSA fully supports measures to protect the wellbeing of all court users. In particular, we fully support barristers adopting and following the CBA Wellbeing Protocol”
King’s Counsel Appointments / SEC Talk for KC Assessors
Tuesday 14th May
17.30 – 18.15
Online
Introduced by Leon Kazakos KC, Leader of the South Eastern Circuit
The aim of this session is to help assessors understand what the KC Selection Panel need to build a picture of the applicant and how best to provide that evidence. It is open to judicial and practitioner (barrister) assessors and will be led by Panel members Dame Anne Rafferty, Dr Douglas Board and HHJ Simon Mayo KC who will take attendees through the process and are happy to answer any questions on it.
An article from Dame Anne Rafferty in this month’s Counsel magazine giving a bit more colour to the assessor process is available here
The access link to the talk will be circulated on the 14th May but please confirm attendance by emailing [email protected]. This event will not be recorded.
And Finally from Stephen Moses KC … its back!
Strictly Furnival
Raising Money for Macmillan Cancer Support on Friday 28th June in The Great Room, Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
Disco-fever will again hit the Grosvenor House Hotel, when up to 1000 members of the judiciary, the Bar, solicitors and their guests will gather to watch an ‘all stars’ line up of the legal profession compete against each other in Strictly Furnival’s “Return of the Glitterball”.
Since 2013 we have raised over £100,000 for charity. This year we will again be raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Craig Revel Horwood has been our ‘ambassador’ since the event’s conception and has generously devoted his time and energy to dine with us and head our celebrity panel. He will be joined this year by fellow Strictly stars Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec, who will return again to open the show then take their places on the judging panel to balance Craig’s sometimes more ‘damning’ critiques of our dance couples.
You, the audience, will vote for your winners and the proceeds of every vote will go directly to Macmillan. For those of you who need reminding (or those of you who have never been before) we have included some of the highlights over the years and hope very much you will again be able to join us to raise funds for a charity which is so close to so many of our hearts.
Further details and how to book you table are available here
Be excellent as always,
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