personal comment. Criminal justice, environment and circular economy expert. Sunrise chaser and storm swimmer.
London, Porto & water to swim
Joined February 2011
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What is your favourite song?
Train in Vain by the Clash — written by Mick Jones about unrequited love, but for me, a baby barrister, it was about travelling to far-flung courts, often to earn less than the train fare.
Lawyer of the week
Paul Sharkey
In the trial of the century – the 12th-century BC, that is – Odysseus was at the Supreme Court in London last week on a charge of reckless navigation as he returned from the Trojan War. He was, however, potted, … on a charge of failing to preserve the safety of his ships.
Curiosities captured by a good court room artist in Russell Brand
Daily the defendant in a trial for rape sits or stands in a state of
semi-undress
listening to complainants
even when giving evidence
shirt unbuttoned
facing the jury in cross examination.
Via @courtroomartist
James Rossiter retweeted
Labour’s jury reforms could lead to more miscarriages of justice, the leader of solicitors in England and Wales has warned @TheLawSociety @AlexJJNorris @sarahsackman @NJ_Timothy @JakeBenRichards @TheCriminalBar @JamesDRossiter @VeraBaird @thebarcouncil @PoliceInspForum @DannyShawNews @PoliceChiefs @NotThatBigIan @CPhilpOfficial @shamichakrabar1 telegraph.co.uk/politics/202…
James Rossiter retweeted
ARE YOU READY TO BELONG...?
Today marks a major step towards bringing London Irish back to professional rugby.
More than a club. A community. A global family of Exiles, wherever you are.
Be part of the next chapter 👇
wearelondonirish.com/
To the Green Party local councillor who said London should take heart from the Paris rioters? What? Just spoken to family who are caught up in Paris gridlock, Parisians trying to flee as the army is called in. Robespierre never left. Tyranny.
The workers suffer most from riots.
When X thinks it knows me without understanding what gives me hope and what is nihilism, despair and worse
PSG is blue sky hope
Magistrates blog is white reality
Less said about the oxymoron of Green and its leader. Beyond despair.
James Rossiter retweeted
Judges will be given new powers to punish killers with solitary confinement and bans on prison visits if they refuse to face their victims’ families when they are sentenced @AlexJJNorris @CMcKinnellMP @AlexDaviesJones @sarahsackman @ShabanaMahmood @PoliceInspForum @NJ_Timothy @TheCriminalBar @JamesDRossiter @voice4victims @VictimsComm @LDNVictimsComm @VictimSupport @DannyShawNews @NotThatBigIan @PrisonStorm @HMIPrisonsnews @charlie_taylor6 @HMIProbation telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10…
James Rossiter retweeted
Today the @VictimsComm Claire Waxman OBE @voice4victims speaks about new judicial sanctioning powers for prisoners who fail to attending sentencing hearings, picking up on solutions and problems
discussed in early 2025 with @TheCriminalBar in an episode of the CBA #CriminalJusticeMatters podcast series (link below) when serving as @LDNVictimsComm.
Today @BBCNews reports @VictimsComm noting the announcement follows "tireless efforts of victims' families" not accepting offenders simply "opting out of facing justice".
She said it was "essential" the powers were used "consistently by courts and prisons, so families receive the justice and accountability they deserve".
The BBC report notes “But Pia Sinha, the CEO of @PRTuk has called for evidence that sanctions will increase attendance and warned the measures will punish relatives of prisoners who "have committed no offence themselves".
Our CBA podcast episode was first published on 20 March 2025, co-hosted by Simon Spence KC and @K80bex Kate Bex, KC, both of @RedLionChambers
At the CBA we examine with appropriate experts often complex #CriminalJusticeMatters that lie behind the immediate headlines.
criminalbar.com/resources/po…
James Rossiter retweeted
The Labour Whip has now been restored.
The agreed statement is attached.
I will not comment further on this issue.
Any media enquires should be directed to the office of the Labour Party Chief Whip.
A reminder of the selective inaccuracies of Sarah Helm dating back 33 years.
independent.co.uk/voices/let…
“Transferring thousands of cases that would currently be tried by judge and jury to the Magistrates' Court is like sending 1,000s of hospital patients back to the GP.
Except the GP is not a doctor.”
@MaxJLHardy on another platform. Words of wisdom. For @UKHouseofLords to hear.
