Power of Persuasion : Essays by a Very Public Lawyer

Over the developing years of the UK's judicial review of ministerial and governmental decisions, Sir Louis Blom-Cooper was a leading advocate who grew up with the advent of a distinctive brand of public law. His range of public activities, both in and outside the courtroom, saw him dubbed by his colleagues as a polymath practitioner. Included were his chairmanship of plural public inquiries in child abuse and mental health; his media contributions in the broadsheet press and in broadcasting; and his innovation in penal reform, as an ardent campaigner for the abolition of capital punishment and a plea for a modern Homicide Act in the UK. He styled himself as a modern, reconstructed liberal - a man before his time. This collection of essays is uniquely prefaced by a self-examination of Sir Louis Blom-Cooper's unorthodox philosophy towards the law in action. The book covers a variety of socio-legal topics that express his ambition to inform a poorly educated public on the workings of the legal system. This aim involves a discussion of the constitutional history of Britain, unwritten and insufficiently interpreted. It reflects a commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights and portrays its international origins. The essays opine on crime and punishment; in the functioning of the courts and elsewhere the political shift from the penal optimism of the 1970s to the reactionary punitiveness of the post-1990s. The essays conclude with a miscellany of affairs, reflecting on professional practices and their product of judicial heroes in both Lord Reid and Lord Bingham. [Subject: Socio-Legal Studies, Public Law, Criminal Law, Media Law, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law] Over The Years Of The Developing Judicial Review Of Ministerial And Governmental Decisions, Louis Blom-cooper Was A Leading Advocate Who Grew Up With The Advent Of A Distinctive Brand Of Public Law. His Range Of Public Activities, Both Inside And Out Of The Courtroom, Saw Him Dubbed By His Colleagues As A Polymath Practitioner. They Included Chairmanship Of Plural Public Inquiries In Child Abuse And Mental Health, Media Contributions And Innovation In Penal Reform. This Book Is A Collection Of His Essays, Prefaced By A Self-examination Of His Unorthodox Philosophy Towards The Law In Action. It Covers A Variety Of Socio-legal Topics That Express His Ambition To Inform The Public On The Workings Of The Legal System. This Involves A Discussion Of The History Of Britain's Unwritten And, In The Author's View, Insufficiently Interpreted Constitution. It Reflects A Commitment To The European Convention On Human Rights And Portrays Its International Origins. It Also Opines On Crime And Punishment In The Functioning Of The Courts And Elsewhere, And The Political Shift From The Penal Optimism Of The 1970s To The Reactionary Punitiveness Of The Post-1990s. The Essays Conclude With A Miscellany Of Affairs, Reflecting On Professional Practices And The Author's Judicial Heroes Lord Reid And Lord Bingham.-- The Scope Of Judicial Review And The Rule Of Law : Between Judicial Restraint And Judicial Creativity -- Judicial Review : Its Genesis And Growth Post-1977 -- Judges In Public Inquiries, Redivivus -- The Road To Rome And Strasbourg Via San Francisco : The Genesis Of Human Rights -- Towards A Legal Forum Of The Isles -- A Calendar Of Murder : The Causes Of Unjustifiable Homicide -- Towards A New Homicide Act -- The Penalty For Murder : Life After Death -- The Apotheosis Of A Mateurism -- English Juries On Trial -- The Ambit Of Innocence -- 'consuming Your Own Smoke' -- Crime And Justice : A Shift In Perspective -- The Magistracy : A Professional Court? -- Serious Fraud Offences : Whither Their Trial? -- James Hanratty : A Vindicatory View -- An Advocate's Tale -- Criminal Justice On Trial -- Victims Adrift -- The Whys And Wherefores Of Penal Policy -- Community Service : Penological Progress -- Prisoners' Right To Vote -- Dangerousness -- Press (media) Freedom : Constitutional Right Or Cultural Assumption? -- The Jurisprudence Of Privacy -- Media Freedom : A New Concept In Free Speech -- Censors In The Courtroom -- The Historical Background To Self-regulation Of The Press -- Jan Christiaan Smuts (1870-1950) : Middle Templar Extraordinary -- Intervention And Amicus Curiae -- Bench And Bar -- Judicial Heroes -- Lord Denning's Legacy : A Judicial Misfit? -- Pilgrims' Progress : Academics And Practitioners. Sir Louis Blom-cooper Qc. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Over the years of the developing judicial review of ministerial and governmental decisions, Louis Blom-Cooper was a leading advocate who grew up with the advent of a distinctive brand of public law. His range of public activities, both in and outwith the courtroom, saw him dubbed by his colleagues as a polymath practitioner.It included chairmanship of plural public inquiries in child abuse and mental health, media contributions in the broadsheet press and in broadcasting, and innovation in penal reform, as an ardent campaigner for the abolition of capital punishment and a plea for a modern Homicide Act. He styled himself as a modern, reconstructed liberal – a man before his time. This collection of essays is uniquely prefaced by a self-examination of his unorthodox philosophy towards the law in action. It covers a variety of socio-legal topics that expresses his ambition to inform a poorly-educated public on the workings of the legal system. This aim involves a discussion of the constitutional history of Britain, unwritten and insufficiently interpreted; it reflects a commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights and portrays its international origins. The collection opines on crime and punishment; in the functioning of the courts and elsewhere the political shift from the penal optimism of the 1970s to the reactionary punitiveness of the post-1990s. The essays conclude with a miscellany of affairs, reflecting on professional practices and their product of judicial heroes in Lord Reid and Lord Bingham. Présentation de l'éditeur : "Over the years of the developing judicial review of ministerial and governmental decisions, Louis Blom-Cooper was a leading advocate who grew up with the advent of a distinctive brand of public law. His range of public activities, both inside and out of the courtroom, saw him dubbed by his colleagues as a polymath practitioner. They included chairmanship of plural public inquiries in child abuse and mental health, media contributions and innovation in penal reform. This book is a collection of his essays, prefaced by a self-examination of his unorthodox philosophy towards the law in action. It covers a variety of socio-legal topics that express his ambition to inform the public on the workings of the legal system. This involves a discussion of the history of Britain's unwritten and, in the author's view, insufficiently interpreted constitution. It reflects a commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights and portrays its international origins. It also opines on crime and punishment in the functioning of the courts and elsewhere, and the political shift from the penal optimism of the 1970s to the reactionary punitiveness of the post-1990s. The essays conclude with a miscellany of affairs, reflecting on professional practices and the author's judicial heroes Lord Reid and Lord Bingham."