An important reminder (that there are insights to be gleaned from the UK's different jurisdictions as the UKSC is due to hear the Campbell appeal later this year) from one of the leading authorities on UK Law Officers 👇
I once almost returned proofs with "pubic law".
I'd add: Roger looks incredibly happy to be a part of this high octane adventure.
Watch this space!
The judgment I was specifically asked to address the tribunal on was R(O) v Home Secretary [2022] UKSC 3. Specifically Lord Hodge at para 29. 2/2
It was a social security appeal around the issue of a specific type of payment the appellant had received and whether the statutory scheme exempted that payment from being considered income. I said yes, the department said no, and the tribunal agreed with me (thankfully!) 1/
Apparently we've reached the nostalgia phase of meme usage, so this is an ideal time for the legal academy to use more memes in scholarship. We've only really explored copyright issues. We haven't even begun to imagine the fun Public Law (the field + the journal) would have with memes.
Thanks! As for publication, I'll take the lawyerly route and say "it depends" 😂
(Nervously) excited to say that I'll be leaving legal practice after almost 12 years to join the NI Assembly as a research officer in European Affairs. Out with briefing counsel and in with briefing committees + legislators.
Waves on the shore at Ostia, Italy.
Today's view from the office
Hall of the Horatii and the Curiatii, Appartamento dei Conservatori, Palazzi del Campidoglio, Rome. The Treaties of Rome were signed here, establishing the European Communities in 1957.
The birthplace of the European Union*
*before it was the EU.
I once fell asleep (drunk) on a train from Den Haag, intending to get off at Rotterdam. I was woken up by railway staff in Eindhoven.
"interest in history"
I have a letter in today’s Irish Times about Ireland and the ECHR and the apparent shift in the Irish government’s position towards reform of the Convention signalled recently by the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD #ECHR
The third woman (Mrs Justice Smyth) joins the senior judiciary in NI, over a decade after the first two women (including the present Lady Chief Justice): m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...
Also featuring reflections on some difficult to follow reasoning on merits review in natsec contexts. Is it merits review? Is it reasonableness review? Does the court only care about whether executive decisions have been rubber stamped? 🤷
The Supreme Court has made a huge mess when it comes to the approach to be adopted in appeals to and from SIAC
The position is now so convoluted that it should be fundamentally reconsidered. How is anyone meant to apply the following? (Taken from today’s decision in Kolicaj [2025] UKSC 49):
Just in time for Christmas, a detailed look at the possible remedies for breaches of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework. Launched today and ft. @aoifemod.bsky.social @colinmurray.bsky.social, @sylviademars.me, Eleni Frantziou and me. A great gift for the whole family 😊
nihrc.org/publication/...
Photo of Éilis Haughey, Director of NIHRC’s Human Rights after EU Withdrawal unit.
Closing remarks for the event are now being delivered by Éilis Haughey, Director of NIHRC’s Human Rights after EU Withdrawal unit.
Photo of panellists Anurag Deb, Dr Sylvia de Mars, Professor Colin Murray, Professor Aoife O’Donoghue and Dr Claire McCann, Senior Policy and Research Officer at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Rhys Davies and Monye Anyadike-Danes appear on the large screen behind them.
We’re now hearing from Rhys Davies, General Counsel at @ima-citrights.bsky.social, and Monye Anyadike-Danes KC, who are offering their reflections on the report.
Photo of panellists Anurag Deb, Dr Sylvia de Mars, Professor Colin Murray, Professor Aoife O’Donoghue and Dr Claire McCann, Senior Policy and Research Officer at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
We’ve now opened the floor to a Q&A with the report authors Anurag Deb, Dr Sylvia de Mars, Professor Colin Murray and Professor Aoife O’Donoghue, chaired by NIHRC Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick. They are joined by Dr Claire McCann, Senior Policy and Research Officer at the NIHRC.
Photo of Alyson Kilpatrick speaking at the launch event of the “Windsor Framework Article 2: Enforcement and Remedies” research report.
NIHRC Chief Commissioner Alyson Kilpatrick is introducing the research by outlining its analysis of how the EU Withdrawal Agreement and the Windsor Framework operate in practice to ensure the enforcement of, and remedies for breach of Windsor Framework Article 2.
Photo of Dr David Russell speaking at the launch event of the “Windsor Framework Article 2: Enforcement and Remedies” research report.
The launch event for our research, “Windsor Framework Article 2: Enforcement and Remedies” has started with a welcome from Dr David Russell, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
The @nihrc.bsky.social are today launching a major new report, by @anuragdeb.bsky.social, @sylviademars.me, @aoifemod.bsky.social, Eleni Frantziou and me, on the novel arrangements for remedying breaches of the UK's obligations for rights and equality in NI under Art 2 WF:
nihrc.org/assets/uploa...
😭
I would like to know what are the inhumane and degrading treatments the Minister believes should be legal.
So much of the commentary on the FWS judgment has been driven by reflexive responses to the outcome, but there are so many gaps and leaps in its reasoning that it will spawn litigation for years to come - @aoifemod.bsky.social and I flag some failings in judge craft:
nilq.qub.ac.uk/index.php/ni...
A grey cat with text: “Our beloved Ernie is missing. Richmond road/clonliffe road. Reward if found, call 0892533727 Please share”
#speirgorm if you are in the Clonliffe Road area please keep an eye out for our lovely former foster boy Ernie
I once made a tepid joke about a particular Harvard Law Review "article" being over 100 pages and of course a few US law profs rushed to defend that nightmare. Entire pages of just footnotes. WHY?
And to think people say academia is dry.
