tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post4650199317651768981..comments2024-03-24T23:01:57.640+00:00Comments on The Justice Diaries: Scottish Human Rights Commission oppose McKenzie Friends as Human Right in Scotland as English courts allow ECHR rights for legal assistance requestsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-70153778612728891522009-10-10T10:52:17.651+01:002009-10-10T10:52:17.651+01:00Q.When is a Human Right not a Human Right ?
A.When...Q.When is a Human Right not a Human Right ?<br />A.When it takes place in Scotland.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-24939474973537383512009-10-08T20:18:38.718+01:002009-10-08T20:18:38.718+01:00Staggering really.I know some of those at the SHRC...Staggering really.I know some of those at the SHRC who turn up at functions & dinners speaking about the good they do.I doubt they would admit to their blast against McKenzie Friends.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-39986385699692237372009-10-07T22:04:11.893+01:002009-10-07T22:04:11.893+01:00That is a DISGUSTING letter from Scottish human ri...That is a DISGUSTING letter from Scottish human rights.<br /><br />Do they really expect people to believe you have to get a lawyer to get justice when English can do different ???<br /><br />YOU DID US ALL A BIG FAVOUR SHOWING THEM UP FOR THEIR DECEPTIONSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-16410809989619373692009-10-07T20:24:12.924+01:002009-10-07T20:24:12.924+01:00and not one word of condemnation from any politici...and not one word of condemnation from any politician - just goes to show how much the shrc have weaseled their way into the pants of all concerned<br /><br />money money !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-12466589180039225932009-10-07T15:45:02.923+01:002009-10-07T15:45:02.923+01:00Oh but this has to be wrong - we are always told S...Oh but this has to be wrong - we are always told Scots Law trumps over English every time so it just cant be the human rights mob are against anything ? haha (kidding) they are only against it because SURPRISE their pals in the legal profession will be done out of fee extortion from poor clients !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-26392217265764467192009-10-07T14:52:58.797+01:002009-10-07T14:52:58.797+01:00First comment says it all really.
The SHRC have re...First comment says it all really.<br />The SHRC have refused hundreds of valid cases where clients hopes have clashed with professional relationships.<br />Happy to see someone finally exposed them for what they are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-12879901360152829562009-10-07T13:58:53.705+01:002009-10-07T13:58:53.705+01:00So now we know why the SHRC do nothing about human...So now we know why the SHRC do nothing about human rights in Scotland - because they dont want human rights in Scotland !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-48976581758479101562009-10-07T07:14:54.875+01:002009-10-07T07:14:54.875+01:00!0:02pm
Normally I would advise you to go straigh...!0:02pm<br /><br />Normally I would advise you to go straight to the media with that story but I'm sure Peter Cherbi can make a better investigation for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-60434450042077974372009-10-06T22:13:00.454+01:002009-10-06T22:13:00.454+01:00By their statement the SHRC commission reveals tha...By their statement the SHRC commission reveals that they are nothing of the kind, but instead confirm the informed and perceptive judgement of the UN Observer on Human Rights and Democracy - Dr Hans Koechler - who compared the application and administration of the law in Scotland to that of a BANANA REPUBLIC.<br /><br />God help us, McAskill and the SNP certainly won't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-8134252005007069812009-10-06T22:02:28.407+01:002009-10-06T22:02:28.407+01:00No surprise to me Mr Cherbi.
I tried to enlist th...No surprise to me Mr Cherbi.<br /><br />I tried to enlist the support of the SHRC on a petition I filed at the Parliament 2 years ago.They said they would think about it but when I called a journalist to ask for some coverage he said they had already contacted him and told him they wouldn't be doing anything.<br /><br />I sent 2 letters asking why they did that and never got a reply so thats the SHRC for you,self interested lawyers out for their own again and dont bother asking them for anything about human rights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-89458698547181195962009-10-06T21:14:29.384+01:002009-10-06T21:14:29.384+01:00Does the SHRC want us to go back to Douglas Mill&#...Does the SHRC want us to go back to Douglas Mill's argument its a lawyers human right to charge clients the earth and get away with it ?<br /><br />What a disgrace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-8752964166855962992009-10-06T17:59:15.338+01:002009-10-06T17:59:15.338+01:00Hi Peter.
I've been reading your blog today af...Hi Peter.<br />I've been reading your blog today after being told of the McKenzie Friend petition.<br /><br />Like others I am surprised the Scottish Human Rights Commission appears to be so vociferous against allowing McKenzie Friends into courtrooms.<br />Clearly their preference is for litigants to obtain the services of a solicitor or not appear at all.<br /><br />I am beginning to think the SHRC has lost its way as a Rights organisation if it engages in what is obviously a campaign by the legal profession itself to block litigants bringing in a note taker or some kind of help in the form of a McKenzie Friend which as you so clearly point out is already viewed as a Human Right issue in England.<br /><br />Perhaps it is time for a review of the SHRC itself - after all they are publicly funded but if they are actually campaigning against public issues then has the time come to pull their funding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-33166264254128521642009-10-06T16:08:22.587+01:002009-10-06T16:08:22.587+01:00Philip Yelland, director of regulation at the Law ...Philip Yelland, director of regulation at the Law Society, said: "Honesty is paramount in solicitors' (YELLAND YOU AMAZE ME, YOU SEND A FARMER WHO ASKED YOU FOR ADVICE ON OBTAINING DAMAGES FROM THE LAWYER WHO RUINED HIM, TO A LAW FIRM WHO REPRESENTED THE LEGAL DEFENCE UNION, WHICH PROTECTS LAWYERS AND THEIR INSURERS, THE FARMER GOT NO HELP FROM YOUR LAWYERS AND TOOK HIS LIFE WITH A SHOTGUN. <br />YOU SEND A RUINED CLIENT TO THE LEGAL DEFENCE UNION AND NOW YOU STATE "HONESTY IS PARAMOUNT IN SOLICITORS". YOU ARE A NUTTER). dealings with their clients. Mr Karus has clearly breached this fundamental principle of being a solicitor."<br /><br />"Once the society has official notice of his sentence from the courts, we will be able to raise a formal complaint against him to allow us to prosecute Mr Karus before the Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal."<br /><br />IS THE LAW SOCIETY ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN UP IT'S ACT BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE IT IS UNDER AS A CROOKED MANAGER OF LAWYERS? TIME WILL TELL, BUT I DOUBT IT.<br /><br />WHEN WILL YOU BE PROSECUTED MR YELLAND FOR ALL THE TORTURE YOU HAVE CAUSED CLIENTS?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-29456717214433210352009-10-06T15:04:40.624+01:002009-10-06T15:04:40.624+01:00I am really surprised the shrc put it in those ter...I am really surprised the shrc put it in those terms and you are quite correct to tackle them the way you have.<br /><br />Keep up the good work Peter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-34519989747871457792009-10-06T14:37:32.701+01:002009-10-06T14:37:32.701+01:00Very unhelpful letter from the SHRC and I agree wi...Very unhelpful letter from the SHRC and I agree with all who have already commented.<br />Maybe the SHRC should be investigated for its motives ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-33213371627001243112009-10-06T13:32:52.957+01:002009-10-06T13:32:52.957+01:00If the SHRC is not into defending our Human Rights...If the SHRC is not into defending our Human Rights (like all lawyers they probably consider it beneath themselves to do so unless paid to do it) we should scrap their public fundingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-772879333125763442009-10-06T12:25:39.830+01:002009-10-06T12:25:39.830+01:00Business for lawyers getting so bad the Human Righ...Business for lawyers getting so bad the Human Rights mob have to step in to knife the competition ?<br /><br />ET TU ALAN MILLER & CO ????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-4585023133769121712009-10-06T12:16:21.837+01:002009-10-06T12:16:21.837+01:00Here's another 'Scottish' try at Human...Here's another 'Scottish' try at Human Rights.Doomed to fail if someone really needs them I bet :<br />http://business.scotsman.com/legalissues/Students39-dream-of--a.5702323.jp<br /><br />Students' dream of a focal point for human rights law debate is realised<br /><br />Published Date: 05 October 2009<br />By Christopher Mackie<br /><br />EARLIER this year, a group of Edinburgh University law students chased after advocate Aidan O'Neill, QC, as he left a tutorial on human rights and begged him for help. The students were keen on developing a focal point for the discussion and debate of human rights law in Scotland after a successful campaign to have an elective in the subject added to the curriculum of their diploma course.<br /><br />Some months later, the plaintive pursuit of Mr O'Neill has finally paid off, as the Scottish Human Rights Law Group celebrated its launch in the University's Playfair Library on Wednesday.<br /><br />Top of the bill was Cherie Booth, QC, a noted speaker on human rights, wife of former prime minister Tony Blair, and a former colleague of Mr O'Neill's. She came to celebrate the achievement of the students in establishing a network of individuals interested in contributing to the debate on human rights law in Scotland.<br /><br />That network now boasts more than 300 individuals, drawn from legal practice, academia, politics and campaigning, who are already contributing to the discourse on the group's website and plan to take part soon in a series of live events.<br /><br />Speaking at the launch, Susan Reddy, a member of the group that chased down Mr O'Neill, and one of its seven-strong steering committee, said she was delighted the forum had come so far.<br /><br />"The sheer number of people who have shown interest in our group spells out loudly and clearly the great need their is for a focus on human rights law in Scotland," she said.<br /><br />"Before the group's existence, it seemed to us that human rights and those interested in it lacked a focal point. We are now convinced we do have a focal point which will continue far beyond this evening."<br /><br />Mr O'Neill, himself an expert in human rights law, said he became involved because of a concern that human rights law was considered a marginal interest by practitioners in Scotland.<br /><br />"My own experience in legal practice at the Bar has been instead that human rights considerations permeate the whole gamut of law and legal practice in Scotland," he said. "From family law to commercial arbitrations; from employment law to criminal procedure; from personal injuries cases to building disputes. Human rights law is not, then, some discrete compartmentalised area of law out on its own. To think of it as such – and worse yet to teach it as such – was, it seemed to me, to misunderstand and misrepresent the legal system that we now have in Scotland."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-56620547580082855752009-10-06T12:11:43.257+01:002009-10-06T12:11:43.257+01:00Michael Karus, 48, earlier pleaded guilty to embez...Michael Karus, 48, earlier pleaded guilty to embezzling £413,052 while acting as the executor of the estate of Edith Hampton, who died in 2003.<br /><br />Another financial grave robber, he must have been listening to Austin Lafferty who said his favourite client was a vulnerable old lady, shame on you both, but let us be fair, Austin has not done this, so innocent until proven guilty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-20809508123888619902009-10-06T12:08:06.219+01:002009-10-06T12:08:06.219+01:00Det Sgt Alan Dickie, of Lothian and Borders police...Det Sgt Alan Dickie, of Lothian and Borders police, said: "Not only did Michael Karus abuse his power as Ms Hampton's lawyer, but he also broke her trust and was able to profit considerably from his deception.<br /><br />This policeman is correct, Karus is an abuser, and it is his kind that put lawyers reputations in the gutter. Penman should have been jailed too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-89583776149035802082009-10-06T12:07:47.304+01:002009-10-06T12:07:47.304+01:00Very sinister coming on the day before the Parliam...Very sinister coming on the day before the Parliament looks at the petition and clearly an attempt to influence the msps against McKenzie Friends for Scotland.<br /><br />I for one will never believe a word the SHRC comes out with again.Criminals against Human Rights in Scotland is what they should be called.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-13534914740036778252009-10-06T11:50:42.238+01:002009-10-06T11:50:42.238+01:00What has the SHRC got against McKenzie Friends ?What has the SHRC got against McKenzie Friends ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-59550718084933953122009-10-06T10:25:53.666+01:002009-10-06T10:25:53.666+01:00Anonymous said...
Very sorry to see an organi...Anonymous said...<br /><br /> Very sorry to see an organization that calls itself a Human Rights promoter has in effect become an opponent of Human Rights in its own country.<br /><br /> 12:51 AM<br /><br />Yes.Only a 'Scottish' human rights organisation would spend 4 pages trying to persuade us we should not have human rights.<br /><br />The "senior solicitor" quoted in the post might be right about why these idiots exist if all they are going to do is tell us "No No No" each time a HR issue comes up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-74733017695120795202009-10-06T00:51:36.535+01:002009-10-06T00:51:36.535+01:00Very sorry to see an organization that calls itsel...Very sorry to see an organization that calls itself a Human Rights promoter has in effect become an opponent of Human Rights in its own country.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20722989.post-3490140642727831322009-10-06T00:43:42.875+01:002009-10-06T00:43:42.875+01:00http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Man-jaile...http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Man-jailed-over-embezzlement.5705538.jp<br />"Man jailed over embezzlement" is the Hootsmon's headline LOL !! "MAN" !!<br /><br />I prefer the BBC version :<br /><br />http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8291294.stm<br /><br />Former lawyer jailed for stealing<br />Michael Karus<br />Michael Karus, 48, earlier pleaded guilty to embezzling £413,052<br /><br />A former lawyer who embezzled over £400,000 from a dead woman's estate to pay off his own debts, has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.<br /><br />Michael Karus, 48, earlier pleaded guilty to embezzling £413,052 while acting as the executor of the estate of Edith Hampton, who died in 2003.<br /><br />The former teacher left the cash to her cousin's daughter, June Pirie.<br /><br />But before Mrs Pirie even knew about the fortune, Karus had already used it to settle debts in his own law firms.<br /><br />Sheriff Derrick McIntyre sitting in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday told Karus: "This was a grave breach of trust.<br /><br />"You were formerly a solicitor, having been suspended by the Law Society in 2002.<br /><br />"In my view the public are entitled to expect people like you, acting in a position of trust, to display the utmost integrity. You have clearly failed to do so in this case."<br /> <br />Not only did Michael Karus abuse his power as Ms Hampton's lawyer, but he also broke her trust and was able to profit considerably from his deception<br />Det Sgt Alan Dickie<br />Lothian and Borders Police<br /><br />Karus put £115,000 into Edinburgh Metropolitan Properties, of which he was a director, £82,000 to Karus & Co pension fund, £60,000 to a judicial factor to clear the law firm's debts and between £3000 and £5000 for his credit card debts.<br /><br />Karus told HM Customs and Excise and Mrs Pirie, when he met her at Miss Hampton's funeral, that all the proceeds of the estate had gone to Cancer Research.<br /><br />The charity had made numerous attempts to communicate with Karus.<br /><br />Defence counsel, Ian Duguid QC, said Karus had been in the middle of an acrimonious divorce and his mother was suffering from dementia.<br /><br />His personal difficulties had "clouded his judgement".<br /><br />Sentencing Karus, Sheriff McIntyre said his starting point was five years, but he would reduce that by six months as the guilty plea had saved a lengthy trial.<br /><br />'Extremely pleased'<br /><br />Furthermore, he said, because Karus had lodged £500,000 with the court to cover the embezzled sum which in due course would go to Miss Hampton's beneficiary, Mrs Pirie, he would reduce the sentence by a further 12 months to three-and-a-half years.<br /><br />Lothian and Borders Police said it was are "extremely pleased" with the sentence.<br /><br />Det Sgt Alan Dickie, of Lothian and Borders police, said: "Not only did Michael Karus abuse his power as Ms Hampton's lawyer, but he also broke her trust and was able to profit considerably from his deception.<br /><br />"Following extensive enquiries by the specialist fraud unit, we were able to build up a significant body of evidence against Mr Karus and were confident the courts would find in favour of that evidence."<br /><br />Philip Yelland, director of regulation at the Law Society, said: "Honesty is paramount in solicitors' dealings with their clients. Mr Karus has clearly breached this fundamental principle of being a solicitor."<br /><br />"Once the society has official notice of his sentence from the courts, we will be able to raise a formal complaint against him to allow us to prosecute Mr Karus before the Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com