If it's okay with you, I think I'll stay here and give my US asylum place to someone actually suffering state persecution. (I'd also rather not claim asylum in a country whose leaders are comfortable associating with the likes of Nick Fuentes) www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

They always say that as a barrister you should note what the greats are doing and see what you can learn from their actions. So today I’m taking that advice and copying @dinahrose.bsky.social and @davidmuttering.bsky.social

🤔

Fascinating piece of info in today's Nobel press release makes one wonder whether Machado was trying to deliver a different message by giving Trump her Nobel medal.

I presume the real quote ends “…like a hole in the head”

Luke Littler hit a 147 to win the World Championship! Don't think that's been done before in the history of snooker, let alone darts!

So we now know who the real @barristersecret.bsky.social is! #Traitors

Ok, so just so we are clear, it’s now okay for a foreign country to swoop in and take hostage a President and First Lady where the President has tried anti-democratically to steal an election and where he is more widely corrupt, and where the country has oil resources. Got it.

Two barristers on the Traitors cast. Now that is an exciting start to 2026!!!

A bit niche this, but the Jewish News typo in announcing Matt Lucas's OBE amused me. Kittle Britain would be a fascinating High Holyday documentary!

Do any criminal lawyers on here have thoughts on this judgment re quashing a summons for the private prosecution of Reginald D Hunter due to the prosecutor's failure to comply with the duty of candour? @barristersecret.bsky.social @joannahs.bsky.social greghadfield.medium.com/judgment-of-...

Just in time!

Chanukah Sameach. May the light engulf the darkness.

I mourn for a world where I have to think carefully about attending a public celebration of what should be a joyous day, and one focused on the excitement and smiles of children, because I can’t be sure whether someone else’s hatred sees that as an irresistible opportunity to kill Jews.

In certain parts of NW London and south Hertfordshire, the collective shouts at the TV screen registered on the richter scale as Jewish Only Connect viewers got 5 points on the Sequences round. @vcorenmitchell.bsky.social

Pity the non-legal correspondent journalists currently ploughing their way through a 300+ page Scottish Employment Tribunal judgment.

Violent threats, ‘soft sexism’ at the Bar — and defending Jimmy Lai www.thetimes.com/article/bf21... A great report on a barrister whose utter brilliance, tenacity and dedication to the rule of law knows no bounds.

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.