Whatever happens in the World Cup draw, we all know it will only be Trump's 2nd favourite such event www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzO8...

share.google/iENGPBziAJMS... Who knew that Guinness World Records were as global as the baseball World Series? (I write this as a former world record holder as a participant in the world’s largest custard pie fight (if you can spot me)): youtu.be/HUAhUine6gk?...

Well, it seems I have a listening age of 80, which likely would have been higher had I not listened to music every so often when running…

Perhaps the government should go back to jury trial’s predecessor, trial by compurgation?

Is there any way in which he isn't a thoroughly objectionable human being? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Office for Budget Irresponsibility?

As Wordsworth put it, the child is the father of the man. It seems pretty clear from his school acquaintances' accounts that the child Farage was a nasty, antisemitic, racist bully. His ever-narrowing denials lack credibility. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Seems it's time for me to go up into the loft and try to find my 2000 Masters extended essay "Trial by Jury: A 21st century anachronism?" in which I conclude that the answer is no.

When I woke this morning, I didn't realise how good 172 all out was!

As the great-grandson of people who fled persecution, I want to live in a country that tells those granted asylum that, after a time, they can feel safe, build a life, and plan a future here without fear of being sent back to the place from which they escaped.

As well as being Guy Fawkes Night, today Sir Sydney Kentridge turns the grand old age of 103. I recall watching him 20 years ago in the Court of Appeal in AG v Jackson (the Hunting Act case) when he was a mere 82 and still an absolute master of the court.

What prompted the Times editor to choose this photo over all the others, one wonders?

If only the Quality Assurance process extended to checking whether apostrophes were not inappropriately absent.

We just published a new piece by Hugh Collins: 'Discrimination Law, Section 3 Human Rights Act and the Higgs Poser' uklabourlawblog.com/2025/10/31/d...

Has anyone thought of the people of York? How will they cope without a duke to rule over them?

Just catching up on an employment case in the CA (Rogerson v Erhard-Jensen) and I see that there is now a new part of the Court of Appeal.

I presume we’ve never previously had a commoner as high up as eighth in the line of succession? (I look forward to being told this presumption is not correct)

Oh no he isn’t! Or alternatively: Oh no! He isn’t?!? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Is Prince Andrew’s downfall going to end up with his life mimicking Sue Townsend’s brilliant book, The Queen and I, where she imagined the Queen being forced to move to a council estate? www.thetimes.com/article/c8b0...

It's a tough day to concentrate on work rather than on the news. Though it's much nicer for that to happen on a positive news day, and to hope that there's even the smallest glimmer of light for a better and more peaceful future for all those in the region. 🎗️

If only it was merely decimation, that wouldn't be so bad!

Hmmm. Going to be one of those days Wordle 1,576 X/6* ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩

Who on earth could the Nobel committee chair have had in mind when giving this explanation?

This is abhorrent. And whilst the Tories will never form the next government, it's scary that this inhumanity is what their polling gurus think the British electorate want as a choice at the next election, & what many will seemingly vote Reform to fulfil. I despair. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

There must be a pun here. Even a little pun. A punnet if you will.

Every year I fear that when I turn my phone on after Yom Kippur I'll learn of a terrorist attack on some part of our community. Every year I breathe a sigh of relief to learn nothing happened. I know many others who do the same. This year we are empty, we are silent and we are mourning our loss.

@adamcreme.bsky.social @dinahrose.bsky.social, rev up your engines. Tribunal fees may be back on the agenda... www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...

Wishing a g'mar chatima tovah and well over the fast to all those who aren't eating, drinking, wearing leather shoes, washing past their 2nd knuckle and the like for 25 hours from this evening.

Not sure what’s better. Getting a 10km PB on Sunday morning or this effort in Monday’s Wordle. Wordle 1,563 2/6* ⬛⬛⬛⬛🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Ran the Vitality 10km this morning. Such a boost to run past the RCJ, down Chancery Lane and past chambers - running roads I’ve walked a thousand times. Unlike @seanjones.org though I didn’t manage to double up racing with a client conference!

I see that during two days of being disconnected from all communication devices over Rosh Hashanah, the main piece of news is that Trump got on a UN escalator and it stopped mid-journey.

Wishing everyone a happy, sweet, healthy and peaceful new year. שנה טובה! 🍎🍯 (apologies for the greeting below; I asked ChatGPT for an appropriate Rosh Hashanah greeting for a barrister to send. Are Inappropriate Gavels on BSky yet?!)

The thing that shocks me most about the Jimmy Kimmel suspension is that the FCC commissioner, Brendan Carr, is younger than me. I didn’t realise I was so old.

Pepper was reading Higgs v Farmor with me and was clearly not impressed…

I think the US attorney general would be wise to read Lady Hale’s judgment in Lee v Asher’s Baking, where she explains nice and simply the US free speech protections that preclude Bondi from carrying out her threats. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/u...

Just turned on to the Employment Rights Bill debate on BBC Parliament - it's a pretty empty House.

Is there a greater sportsman and showman in current world sport than Duplantis?

I know that this place is good for employment lawyers with cats. We got Pepper a couple of weeks ago but I’d not mentioned anything until now. I guess it’s time to let the cat out of the bag…

Whilst others focussing on the Banksy RCJ mural concern themselves with the inappropriate gavel, the fake barrister walking past & the security lapse, my mind turns to the prosecution and whether Banksy would be represented by @barristersecret.bsky.social when applying for an anonymity order.

As believable as Trump’s promise to end the Russia-Ukraine war on Day 1

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Never mind…

According to Lexis Nexis, prior to the Epping Forest case Lord Justice Bean heard 11 cases since Labour took power where the Secretary of State was a party. Should we all be disappointed in Steven Bartlett for his abject failure to make a JCIO complaint in all of those cases?!

Jack Straw is a better pub than legal commentator in human rights legislation

A great list. Good luck to all. Particularly delighted to see @chrismilsom.bsky.social getting due recognition.

The future’s bright. The future’s Ngumoha!

Here’s a suggestion. Rather than overhaul the current immigration appeal system to grab some headlines, why not properly fund it and properly fund its judiciary. It won’t grab the headlines but would surely be a more effective route to speeding up the appeal system.

I can’t imagine the fear of those who’ve bravely and desperately escaped from persecution in their home countries only to be confronted by rabid protesters when placed in hotels upon claiming refuge here.

As I drove down an Irish country lane, an age old question came to mind.

Can I thank all those who voted for me for this award that I’ve never heard of. Alas my email doesn’t tell me what category I won in, so I’m guessing it’s the category of Employment Barristers Called Jason who are under 5’6”. I’ll now go and write my acceptance speech.