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PROGRAMME INFO |
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The programme that tackles the big legal issues as well as the everyday ones without long words, small print or expensive fees. It is aimed at anyone who is interested in the way the law works - and sometimes doesn't work.
Send your comments to lawinaction@bbc.co.uk
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LISTEN AGAIN |
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PRESENTER |
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A lawyer turned journalist, he was a leader writer and legal correspondent for The Times before becoming freelance, since when he has written and broadcast on many different subjects for a wide range of newspapers, magazines, radio and television. He currently writes a weekly column on legal issues for The Guardian, and is lecturer on media law at the City University.
Past highlights have included devising and presenting the first television drama-documentary to feature real lawyers and judges doing their job (for London Weekend Television) and devising and editing the award-winning The Law Magazine.
He has written or co-written four books, including The Law Machine (with Clare Dyer, Penguin, 5th edition, 2000).
Apart from his output on legal themes, he is the crime fiction reviewer for The Times, used to set a weekly quiz for The Guardian and is a panelist on BBC Radio 4's Round Britain Quiz.
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| PROGRAMME DETAILS | | | |
|  | | Civil rights campaigners outside the Supreme Court
This Monday saw judgment in one of the most important cases about race to come before the US Supreme Court since the school bussing cases of the 1950s. The Court was asked to examine the constitutionality of the so-called ’affirmative action’ programmes used by some universities to ensure ethnic diversity in their student intake. The case was brought by a disappointed white female applicant to the University of Michigan Law School.
| |  | | Professor Paul Butler, expert on race in US law.
Charles Sigler describes the dramatic clash of legal minds inside America’s highest court. Marcel Berlins discusses the decision with Paul Butler, Professor of Law at George Washington University in the capital. He then turns to Birmingham University’s Director of Admissions Delyth Chambers to ask what universities admissions departments are doing in the UK, and to solicitor Elaine Maxwell to ask what the law on affirmative action is over here.
| |  | | Aaron Barschak is arrested after gatecrashing the party.
When Aaron Barschak gatecrashed Prince William’s 21st birthday party the royal family were furious, the police were embarrassed, an immediate inquiry was launched, and the Home Secretary felt obliged to apologise in Parliament. But what might the stand-up comedian, who claims to have kissed the prince on both cheeks, actually have done wrong, in legal terms? Marcel speaks to criminal barrister John Cooper about what charges if any Mr Barschak could face.
| |  | | Hunting with dogs is now illegal in Scotland
Last week, an attempt to overturn the recent ban on hunting with dogs in Scotland failed. Brian Friend and Jeremy Whaley, both members of the Union of Country Sports Workers, said the law violated their human rights. The Court of Session disagreed. Both men have vowed to fight on, if necessary all the way to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The programme hears from Les Ward, director of ‘Advocates for Animals’ and a key campaigner against hunting in Scotland, and from pro-hunting barrister Richard Lissack QC. | |  | | Gail and Andrew Wallbank have fallen foul of an ancient law.
Last year, we reported on the battle over the church of St John the Baptist in Aston Cantlow, Warwickshire. At issue was who should be responsible to pay for the repair of the chancel of the church. The legal fight, over a law dating back to the Middle Ages, has been going on for over a decade. The case finally came to an end this week, when the House of Lords delivered its judgment. Law in Action went back to solicitor Ian Fisher to find out what they decided.
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RELATED LINKS
Affirmative Action
US Supreme Court – full decision in the affirmative action case.
Full online transcript (pdf file) of the Supreme Court's decision in Grutter v Bollinger.
BBCi - Landmark ruling on university admissions
Mike Baker reports from the University of Michigan, a few days before the US Supreme Court ruled on its affirmative action policy.
BBCi - Supreme Court raises the stakes
The US Supreme Court, deeply divided, has narrowly upheld the right of universities to continue with affirmative action programmes to admit more minority students in pursuit of diversity.
BBCi - Divided US court reflects divided nation
On Thursday the Supreme Court will end an historic session in which it announced key decisions on civil rights, free speech, and gay rights. But its deeply split decisions reflect a wide cultural divide in American society.
BBCi - University admissions review spelt out
The Government has set out what it expects from a new taskforce set up to bring more "openness and transparency" to university admissions.
The Atlantic online – Clarence Thomas and Affirmative Action
In 1987, when Clarence Thomas was chairman of the US Equal Employment Opportunity commission, American monthly ‘The Atlantic’ profiled Thomas and traced the development of his views on affirmative action.
Royal Gatecrasher
BBCi - Inquiry into Windsor party intruder
An immediate inquiry into a security breach at Prince William's 21st birthday party has been ordered by Home Secretary David Blunkett
BBCi - Windsor intruder regrets stunt
The man who gatecrashed Prince William's 21st birthday party has said he "absolutely" regrets the whole incident.
Scottish Hunting Ban
BBCi - Hunt ban challenge fails
An attempt to have the ban on hunting with dogs in Scotland overturned has failed.
BBCi - Countryside 'betrayed' by hunt ban
Countryside campaigners have described the ban on hunting with dogs in Scotland as "political vandalism".
Advocates for Animals
Website of a Scottish NGO which campaigns against and undertakes 'special investigations' into animal abuse.
Scottish Countryside Alliance
Website of the Scottish branch of the NGO that campaigns on rural issues.
Medieval Liabilities
BBCi - £350,000 blow for church couple
A couple will have to pay £100,000 for repairs to an ancient church in England about 100 miles from their mid Wales home.
House of Lords judgments
Web page for recent judgments from the House of Lords – the chancel case of Aston Cantlow v Wallbank will be published here.
Ecclesiastical Law Society – case report
Summary of the High Court decision in the church chancel case.
Aston Cantlow Church Appeal
Website for the appeal to raise funds to pay for repairs to Aston Cantlow.
DISCLAIMER: the BBC is not responsible for the content of any external links.
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Audio Help
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| | PREVIOUS PROGRAMMES
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| 27 June 2003
Aiming for diversity in university admissions – where does the law draw the line?
- Affirmative action law in the US and UK.
- Royal gatecrashing: what’s the crime?
- Human rights not violated by Scottish ban on hunting.
- Church repairs:'capricious' ancient law costs Aston Cantlow couple dear.
20 June 2003
Judging the judges - who should choose?
Special single-issue edition on judicial appointments.
13 June 2003
Suicide and the state - when it must let you die.
- The law in relation to suicide.
- Executed George Kelly's 1950 conviction quashed.
- Lawyers who do it for free.
- The end of the Irvine era: his legacy and the changes to come.
6 June 2003
Nothing to lose? - what you need to know about no win no fee.
- Conditional fee agreements.
- Looted artefacts: closing the legal loophole.
- UK Coroners system to be reformed.
- Travellers' rights and local authority injunctions : the balancing act.
30 May 2003
Stansted hijackers' convictions quashed - does the law on duress need to change?
- Hijacking and the defence of duress.
- Will the timeshare fraudster really get to keep his loot?
- Should you be 'registering' your village green?
- House of Lords gets to grips with privacy and the common law.
Link to factsheets from earlier series of Law in Action
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