News

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Polish abortion verdict violated rights of pregnant woman, human rights court rules

November saw both lower demand and supply in the Scottish property market according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market. Taking a look at demand through November, a net balance of -17 per cent of respondents in Scotland noted a fall in new buyer enquiries

RTA LAW LLP has announced staff changes. Zara Jones, previously a senior solicitor at RTA LAW LLP, has been promoted to the position of associate.

The Scottish Sentencing Council is holding a webinar next month on its new sentencing guideline: Statutory offences of causing death by driving. The webinar, which meets CPD requirements, is aimed at legal practitioners and will take place on Tuesday 16 January 2024 at 4.30pm to coincide with the da

Scotland’s best known (fictional) advocate is back in action this month in The Scotsman with this year’s month-long Christmas serial Edward Kane and the Supernal Sisters. The story focuses on the popularity of seances and other spirited events in the mid 1900s. Ross Macfarlane KC’s

A notorious mobster has said he has no regrets about posing for a shirtless picture that led to his arrest and imprisonment. Ralph DiMatteo, 68, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by a New York court after pleading guilty to extortion, conspiracy and money laundering offences, the New York P

COP28 in Dubai has agreed on the need to move away from fossil fuels for the first time at the end of a climate summit marred by restrictions on civil society and the United Arab Emirates’ "blatant contempt" for human rights, Amnesty International said. The headline COP28 agreement on the Glob

Former president of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, is to become a patron of the Aberdeen Law Project. Following his tenure as president, he was elected as an honorary Fellow of the Royal Society in 2017 and is an honorary member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

More than 50 organisations have signed an open letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf warning that plans for a Scottish Human Rights Bill must not be watered down.

The Crown Office has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a fatal accident inquiry into the death of 48-year-old John Barnes. Mr Barnes died on 29 July 2022 at the Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert. Mr Barnes had been an inmate within HMP Glenochil when he was admitted to the ho

The abolition of 'not proven' could endanger the presumption of innocence, ministers have been warned. Stuart Murray, president of the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association, told MSPs at Holyrood that the third verdict is a “safety valve” for jurors.

Concerns have been raised that prisoners' right to an hour of exercise in the fresh air every day is “clearly being breached” at Scotland’s holding facility for children and young offenders. HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS) stated in its latest report on HMP YOI

John Logue has been confirmed as crown agent and chief executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). He has been serving as interim crown agent since September 2022. This appointment confirms he will remain in post.

Burkhard Schafer, professor of computational legal theory at the University of Edinburgh, was recently interviewed about his approach to legal theory and technology, challenges in AI legislation, and the focus of his current research at REWI University of Graz. Professor Schafer was awarded a senior

Senior solicitor Anelia Black has joined Lindsays in Edinburgh. She gained her experience in the in-house private client services team of a leading investment company where she advised clients in both Scotland and England.