When a High Court rules that a Cabinet Minister has broken the law and it doesn't even make the news you are nolonger living in a democracy.

Ridiculous state of affairs at Snaresbrook CC court - cells are now closed between 1-2pm? If you have a 2pm listing? Serco advice? Attend at midday. If only I had known I had to get to court 2 hours before my listing. The CBA is this happening anywhere else?

I was in court all day today. Got home about 7pm. For £91. Luckily I have to give chambers 16% of that. So about £77. Of course, that’s assuming the legal aid agency don’t accuse me of not being there. Which they no doubt will. #NotEvenMinimumWage

"I'm not leaving here without my staff". Ex-Marine Pen Farthing has told Niall Paterson that he's happy to wait so he can leave Kabul with his NOWZAD workers and animals. #KayBurley #Afghanistan UF 2/2

‘This is a fight for the soul of the criminal bar and our solicitor colleagues - and a fight we are going to win,’

Powerful speech from @JoSidhuQC Outside the Old Bailey joined by barristers who took action not to attend court and by supporting solicitors- and even the RMT. #action4justice

The Bellamy Review was clear that the £135 million being paid in tranches was “the minimum necessary as the first step in nursing the system of criminal legal aid back to health after years of neglect.” The Govt should now show it's ready to engage with the sector on next steps.

Dominic Raab will you please come and meet me on Monday so that we can discuss how to improve our criminal justice system? I have written to you as my local MP but have yet to receive a response. The CBA #action4justice

Is the government going on a summer holiday before fixing the paralysis in our justice system? Victims don’t deserve a c70,000 queue. The wrongly accused need trials. NQ barristers deserve more than £12,200 median income. And the public deserves better. theguardian.com/law/2022/jul/1…

Hi Jon Craig⁩ ⁦Sky News⁩ see all those barristers in central lobby? Please check them out. Criminal barristers are taking action because the Govt won’t implement the recommendations of its own review - we don’t have enough barristers because our fees are so low

Hi Dominic Raab There are lots of us waiting to speak to you about the National emergency in the justice system. Are you coming out? The CBA @TheYoungCBA #action4justice

Today I met with the The CBA to hear their concerns first hand. The Tories long neglect of the CJS & legal aid has resulted in the profession losing complete trust & confidence in the Gvt- with victims paying the highest price. Justice delayed, is justice denied.

Guest post by Joanna Hardy-Susskind: Attrition thesecretbarrister.com/2022/07/21/gue…

Policy advisor to lord chancellor Dominic Raab gets £73,500 - £117,800 a year + pension - to help him cook up drivel, like he spouted to Daily Mail Online today. Junior criminal barristers earn £12,200 a year to uphold rule of law. Is this right, Mr Raab? civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi?j…

An excellent piece from Peter Collier about the current situation. Can’t understand why Dominic Raab and Sarah Dines can only respond with the same misinformation every time. Well, I mean I can understand, but…🤬

This is good news and credit to Brandon Lewis for moving swiftly on this and to The CBA for their response. Justice Committee has called for such meetings and a swift resolution . Let’s hope this can be a start.

As justice secretary Brandon Lewis suggests striking The CBA should accept 15% rise in legal aid rates, stating it's the biggest increase in a decade. I thought I'd re-post my Law Society Gazette, showing that MPs had a 25% pay rise over eight years. lawgazette.co.uk/commentary-and…

At whatever stage the govt offers us something acceptable and the Bar does return to work we will still be faced with a far more existential problem which will continue to impact trials. With fewer than 4.5k criminal barristers across the country...