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The English Legal System

The English Legal System (9th edn)

Alisdair Gillespie and Siobhan Weare
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date: 14 November 2024

p. 70320. The Futurelocked

p. 70320. The Futurelocked

  • Alisdair GillespieAlisdair GillespieProfessor of Criminal Law and Justice and University Academic Dean at Lancaster University
  • , and Siobhan WeareSiobhan WeareSenior Lecturer in Law at Lancaster University

Abstract

This chapter considers the impact that Covid-19 has had on the English Legal System. The chapter is broken down into sections that mirror the parts of this book. The chapter begins by noting that the manner in which laws are passed differed because of coronavirus. The government was given wide-ranging powers to introduce new laws that restricted liberty. In many instances, these were not subject to parliamentary debate or judicial analysis. The chapter also considers how the courts had to adjust to new ways of working. While traditionally the courts rely on live proceedings, with everyone gathered in court, this was not possible throughout the pandemic. Remote hearings became the new normal until so-called ‘Nightingale courts’ were introduced to allow for socially distant trials to resume. However, this has led to significant delays in both the civil and criminal justice systems that will have a lasting impact. The chapter considers not only what happened during the coronavirus pandemic, but also what lessons have been learnt that can carry through to the future.

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