We have been seeing a clear divergence between how the Chief Constable of the PSNI views the "neither confirm nor deny" policy and how the UKG views it. As the Chief Constable put it in an interesting speech last night, you can't keep using it like a "wall" around the Troubles. The UKG disagrees.

Much ink has been spilt in discussing the reviewability of the Attorney General's discretionary powers in England and Wales. Northern Ireland is missing in that discourse. Here, I discuss why it ought to be seriously considered.

Much ink has been spilt in discussing the reviewability of the Attorney General's discretionary powers in England and Wales. Northern Ireland is missing in that discourse. Here, I discuss why it ought to be seriously considered.

Yikes.

I have no doubt that the common law can protect certain academic conceptions of the common good. But I am afraid that I remain unconvinced that the common law can hold a candle to the HRA when it comes to providing meaningful, substantive human rights protections, as much as I would love to be wrong

I’m unconvinced by some of the examples here. Proportionality review, despite some academic excitement, remains exclusive to the context of adjudicating upon HRA/ECHR rights. Sliding scale rationality review, which takes into account the weight of what is at stake, is a separate phenomenon.

Another interesting defence of the common law human rights model here, drawing on Lord Briggs’ speech from last month. Baxter supports Briggs’ thesis - which champions the common law’s capacity to protect rights in the event of ECHR withdrawal. It’s eloquently argued, but I disagree.

Ireland has secured a three-year extension to the controversial nitrates derogation. An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, said the decision is "actually shocking". "Recent EPA data on water quality is unambiguous. We are going backwards," An Taisce said. jrnl.ie/6897863t

"Gareth Sheridan went to Tucker Carlson's Christmas party" is already crazy, but "Gareth Sheridan took a photo with the world's most famous antisemitic conspiracy theorist, then voluntarily posted it on the Internet" is blowing my fucking mind

And in government they fully supported making it easier for Irish citizens to become dual nationals in the UK. But of course this was last year, which is too far back for anyone to remember.

Another day, another reminder that the legacy of the Troubles in NI is "unbalanced" when it comes to criticising state involvement & lobbying for the state to be held to account. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv... MI5 tried to cover up truth over 'Stakeknife' spy in IRA, report says - BBC News

👀

The dialogue between Mark Elliott and Lord Sales here is fascinating. Ironically enough, in my thesis I conclude that parliamentary intent - at least as judicially conceptualised - rarely if ever makes it into drafting considerations. A point which courts perhaps need to consider.

This is nice and all, but maybe (just *maybe*) cosying up to the EU might involve not trying to hollow out the application of its laws in NI through various creative arguments in the domestic courts.

Jurisdictional comity in the Supreme Court administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/06/j...

In an exhilarating change to the usual experience of clinical negligence review lists in the High Court, the Master ordered wasted costs against 5 ppl for not turning up, struck out a claim for delay in serving replies to particulars and strongly suggested that more ppl should sue their solicitors 😬

Before the UKSC judgment in Dillon (+ the value of the Windsor Framework), a rundown of EU law issues in that case, how the government wants them dealt with and how Eleni and I think the government is wrong. Also, a link for the launch of our forthcoming report on remedies and the WF (16 Dec).

"What's your favourite law?"

As someone who is still here five years later and had this type of chemotherapy for BC, and has looked (through my fingers) at the stats, in a very real sense ET IN ARCADIA EGO - an absolutely wonderful letter about how the human mind makes creative connections

This is a lovely discovery. I remember modern Indian history in school: pages and pages of men, maybe one mention of a woman (usually Vijaya Laxmi Pandit). High time for that to be corrected. BBC News - Forgotten photos reveal women who powered India's freedom struggle www.bbc.com/news/article...

"Death toll passes 1,000 in devastating floods across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand" Really horrific www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

I once had to use Bengali at a previous job and agonised over the proper translation of words like "airport" for a minute before remembering that, conversationally, we would just use the English word. And that I wasn't a newsreader or a government spokesperson.

Without citing Kenneth Branagh, name a Shakespeare adaptation. This is the final film in a fantastic trilogy of Shakespeare adaptations.

In my latest article, I explore the (very) limited potential for impeachment to be utilised as an accountability mechanism to address violations of the rule of law in the EU at supranational level.

Somehow, I don't think the NI Executive or the NI Assembly want *me* in charge of drafting legislation (but I would have a *lot* of fun 😊)

Earlier this year, the Indian Supreme Court "deemed assent" to 10 long-pending Bills where a particular Governor had done nothing. That judgment was scathing in its criticism of the Governor's conduct but its reasoning - the "deeming" of an act the Constitution doesn't assign it - was criticised. 1/

Appeal allowed in IA: Upper Tribunal was wrong to find breach of Article 8 ECHR www.judiciary.uk/judgments/ia... This is the widely reported case about the Gazan family applying for settlement under the Ukrainian Family Scheme. The Court of Appeal makes no criticism of the choice to use that route

Just a jaw-dropping paragraph in Trevor Phillips's column for The Times. This is a policy that, by his own account, has left parents of a particular race too frightened to walk their children to school. And that's the example he chooses of the "vigour" we "need". www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

🇵🇱⚖️🇪🇺💍🏳️‍🌈I see a lot of "CJEU just legalised same-sex marriage across the EU" or "this is the EU Obergefell v Hodges moment" comments, and that's not quite the case. While the obligation for Poland to recognise same-sex unions concluded abroad is now clear, will the country follow it and adapt its laws?

The judgment is currently only available in French or Polish so my understanding is either basic or non-existent (+ Google translate is hardly authoritative as a matter of EU law), BUT: I think this is one of the more significant points: 1/

It's a small step (same-sex couples in EU members without marriage equality can now marry in another member state and have their marriages recognised at home). But it's an important one. A consequence of a supranational system with a strong harmonising interest. Relevant to gender recognition.

Without getting into the merits of the minister's decision, the "little used" call-in procedure is what *SHOULD* be used whenever ministers are accused of solo runs beyond their remit in NI, not the courts. Fewer batshit judicial reviews, more political moves please ☺️ www.bbc.com/news/article...

How is this not the top story on every news bulletin? This has been happening for years and instead of doing anything to protect children successive governments have made the situation worse. This isn't just on councils. It is part of failings on a State level. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

The essential trait every South Asian parent drills into their children from birth is the ability of charming the most cantankerous, unhinged uncles in the neighbourhood.

I’ve written something on John Collison’s Op-Ed and environmental democracy Next time you’re out in Dublin, check if you’re being “socially de-risked” by a friendly face from his think-tank elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...

A productive conversation around these statistics is whether the public infrastructure has kept up with demand (it obviously hasn't) and so we've all been competing for increasingly smaller scraps from an increasingly hardened, unkind state. But no, we must grab the less productive headlines.

Earlier today the UK Supreme Court decided the provision of religious education in NI was unlawful. Before the inevitable tides of Stormont's (delightful) politics drown us, here's an analysis of that judgment from @colinmurray.bsky.social, @lewisgrahamlaw.bsky.social and I.

Ofsted School Inspection Framework Changes Lawful administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/o...

Applying Shvidler: Proportionality, Appeal and Review administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/a...

Unlawful prisoner segregation administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/u...

I can't remember where I read this but the practice of summoning the Home Secretary to witness a royal birth was only stopped in the 20th century. So much for the dignified part of Bagehot's constitution.

Maybe I've missed a trick by not using my own experiences of racism to justify my (problematic) actions but then I don't have a seat in the Commons so what do I know.

I'm having flashbacks to courts being directed to give "great weight" and "the greatest possible weight" to various matters under the hugely successful Bill of Rights Bill.

The gender pay gap is not a distinct thing outside other kinds of systemic struggle; it's a gateway for many such struggles.

This is probably a niche observation but the survey asked "2025 or 1975" to at least some people who were not alive in 1975, never mind old enough to have an opinion of life in 1975. To what extent therefore are the survey and its results pure shite?

Progress report on negotiations on a general EU anti-discrimination directive (outside employment) - still no unanimity on this - data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document...

Dr Orla Kelleher pushes back against the narrative that judicial reviews are to blame for the housing crisis.

President Catherine Connolly says she will foster “inclusive and open dialogue” on a united Ireland. She said any progress towards unity must honour the principle of consent and celebrate the heritage and traditions of all who live on the island. #VMNews

H/t to @nearlydoctornick.bsky.social for highlighting this hauntingly beautiful collab between the late Talos and Ólafur Arnalds: youtu.be/nEBbhgMp8Ok?...