US EditionJustice secretary to get power to veto sentencing guidance
The Sentencing Bill requires Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Lady Chief Justice approval for new guidelines, addressing concerns over advice on sentencing offenders from minority groups.
- The Sentencing Bill, set to be presented to the House of Commons this Tuesday, grants the Justice Secretary the authority to block changes to sentencing guidelines.
- This change follows a dispute over guidelines that ministers blocked, which would have required judges to consider offenders’ backgrounds from certain minority groups.
- New sentencing guidelines must receive approval from the Justice Secretary as well as the Lady Chief Justice before being issued by the Sentencing Council.
- Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated individual sentencing decisions remain the judiciary’s responsibility and said the change will right the 'democratic deficit' uncovered.
- The legislation also includes measures addressing prison overcrowding, and the government insists the reforms maintain judicial independence while increasing democratic oversight.
16 Articles
16 Articles
UK sentencing bill to introduce veto powers over sentencing guidelines
The UK government introduced new legislation which will require the Justice Secretary and the Lord or Lady Chief Justice to approve Sentencing Council proposed guidelines for courts. The bill, currently in its second reading, compels the Lord or Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor to accept Sentencing Council proposals for courts in England and Wales. The new legislation will amend s.120 of The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 which previously e…
Minister granted new veto powers over 'independent' public body
The justice secretary has been granted the power to sign off on any new guidelines for prison sentences as part of a push for Parliament to have a say in the justice system, following political backlash earlier this year. As part of the Sentencing Bill, set to be introduced to the House of Commons today, both the justice secretary and the Lady Chief Justice will be given new powers requiring them to approve any future guidelines before they can …
New rule on courts guidance introduced after major row over ethnicity | Tech, Entertainment, Sport, Fashion, Travel News
The Justice Secretary and the Lady Chief Justice will be given individual – and separate – powers requiring them to approve any future guidelines before they can be issued The Sentencing Council will be unable to issue new guidelines without the explicit approval of the Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (above)(Image: Getty Images) Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has banned the Sentencing Council from issuing guidelines for judges after it su…
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