The Law Society Gazette reported a few days ago that the European Court of Justice decided to open up the continental notaries’ profession to all nationalities. That is a big change. But it does not represent the real revolution behind the decision. I wrote about some of the background when the Advocate General’s opinion came out last September, and before that just after the oral hearing. Although the notaries defended the nationality requirement, as did the governments against whom the case was brought (Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany, Greece and Portugal), this was never about that alone – or even mainly about that. I have privately heard from notaries over and over again that they expected to see the nationality requirement go sooner or later, and that it was not defensible. No, the real question was the position of notaries under article 45 of the Treaty, which says that the free movement provisions relating to persons, services and capital should not apply to ‘activities which in that state are connected, even occasionally, with the exercise of official authority’. The notaries have used this provision to escape from the free movement legislation, which has bound lawyers ever since the Reyners case settled it for our profession. Under this argument, notaries have until now claimed exemption from the relevant provisions of the Treaty because their activities are connected with the exercise of official authority. The Member States concerned in the cases supported this proposition. So did the Advocate General in his opinion (who advocated striking down the nationality requirement but still supported their exclusion from Article 45). The only Member State to support the Commission in its claim that this was not true was – don’t fall down with shock – the UK. Interestingly, this was one of those rare cases where the Court of Justice opposed the collective might of the Advocate General’s opinion and the ranks of the Member States to say that notaries do not exercise official authority. The Court analysed the decades-old arguments of the notaries, and demolished them one by one – which means a total change in the declared status of notaries. I notice that the press release of the official body representing notaries, CNUE, pretends to welcome the decision, but in fact they must be reeling with trauma and distress. For the first time, they are now to be treated like any other profession in the EU. The principal argument used has been that notaries authenticate documents, a procedure unknown to the common law, which verifies that all the conditions laid down by law for the drawing up of an instrument are satisfied and that the parties have legal personality and capacity to enter into it. However, the Court notes that these instruments are freely entered into by the parties. They decide themselves, within the limits laid down by law, the extent of their rights and obligations and choose freely the conditions which they wish to be subject to when they produce a document or agreement to the notary for authentication. Therefore, the notary’s intervention presupposes the prior existence of an agreement or consensus. Further, the notary cannot unilaterally alter the agreement without first obtaining the consent of the parties. This does not have the appearance or substance of official authority. The second argument has been that an authentic act has enhanced probative force and is enforceable. But the Court points out that that force derives from the rules of evidence of the Member States and so has no direct effect on the classification of the notarial activity of drawing up those acts. As regards the enforceability of notarial acts, the Court observes that it is based on the intention of the parties appearing before the notary to make it enforceable. Finally, the Court also observes that, within the geographical limits of their office, notaries practise in conditions of competition, which is not characteristic of the exercise of official authority. They are also directly and personally liable to their clients for loss arising from any default in the exercise of their activities, unlike public authorities, liability for whose default is assumed by the State. So, welcome to our world, brothers and sisters of the notarial profession. Expect soon to have all the internal market legislation applied to you. For instance, I wonder what will happen now to perceived obstacles to free movement like the fixed number (‘numerus clausus’) of notaries and the fixed geographical location, to take just two. There will be a rollercoaster ride ahead. read more

An Iraqi lawyer, Samira Saleh al-Naimi, has been publicly executed in the northern city of Mosul by forces of the Islamic State (ISIS), a Middle East human rights group reported today.The Gulf Center for Human Rights said that al-Naimi had been taken from her home last week after describing as ‘barbaric’ the destruction of historic sites in Mosul and was shot by masked men in a public square on Monday. An Associated Press report quotes the United Nations as saying she had been ‘found guilty of apostasy in a self-styled Islamic court’.The Gulf centre described al-Naimi as ‘a prominent lawyer and human rights defender and famous for her activities that include defending detainees and supporting the disadvantaged families in the city’. It called for the UN to carry out ‘an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the execution of Samira Saleh Al-Naimi and other crimes committed by ISIS with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in line with local laws and international standards’. read more

A criminal defence firm in Leeds is turning to technology to ensure its survival as firms await the outcome of the Ministry of Justice’s tender for a reduced number of legal aid contracts.O’Garra’s Solicitors has developed software that will enable fee-earners to take client instructions digitally, automatically generate bespoke client letters and email files to the office.Managing partner Michael O’Garra said the firm was trying to increase efficiencies ‘knowing we’re either going to get one of these contracts and will be fielding a larger [procurement] area, or we don’t get one of these contracts and need to work a lot smarter to compete for work’.The firm is currently on the duty provider scheme for Leeds. The ministry’s new contracts could see it cover the whole of West Yorkshire.O’Garra said solicitors in the region felt like they are in a ‘total period of limbo’ as they await the outcome of practitioner groups’ recent talks with the MoJ on fee cuts as well as the outcome of the tender process.Justice secretary Michael Gove last week thanked practitioner groups for ‘constructive dialogue’ during the course of a 52-day nationwide legal aid boycott prompted by the introduction of a second 8.75% fee cut for litigators on 1 July.‘Thanks to the constructive dialogue that we have had with them and with [MoJ] civil servants, we are now in talks to ensure that access to justice can be enhanced and, at the same time, that the quality of advocacy improves,’ Gove told MPs.Hours earlier, justice minister Lord Faulks defended the ministry’s reforms after Labour peer Lord Beecham, a former solicitor, tabled a motion of regret over the government’s Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration etc) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.Faulks said the level of interest in duty contracts, knowing the likely reduction in fees, suggested there remains an ‘appetite’ to undertake criminal legal aid work under the new regime. read more

The criminal court system will need to run at more than twice its normal capacity over the next three years to deal with the coronavirus backlog and workload created by a growing police force, the Criminal Bar Association has predicted.Citing figures from the Institute for Government, the CBA said if there are 20,000 more police officers by 2023 – as currently planned – the criminal justice system will have to deal with 66,000 more cases per year, a 16% increase.Combined with an expected build up of cases as a result of the pandemic, courts will have to run at 125% of 2019/20 levels for the next three years to keep on top of the workload, the CBA said.In her weekly message to members, chair of the CBA Caroline Goodwin QC writes that lawyers face a ‘toxic scenario’ where ‘the strain on the court system as we know it is going to literally cripple us and unless something is done it is only going to get worse’.Goodwin said remote hearings were not a solution and more buildings need to be allocated for trials. ‘This use of technology is welcomed but it needs to be approached with care. We have had long held principles of open justice and fair trials. Let us not compromise that for the sake of a ha’porth of tar,’ she said.Around 40,000 criminal cases are currently outstanding. Goodwin predicted this will rise to 51,000 by the end of June.‘If statistical modelling is to be considered, the backlog will rise and significantly not only for trials but also for cases. If there is a moderate impact, i.e. 15% of norm, in one quarter April to June, the backlog will rise to 51,000. If that figure of 15% lasts for six months the backlog will increase to 65,000, the highest since 2000,’ she said.The backlog of civil cases is currently unknown. The Bar Council said this week it had been ‘fobbed off’ by the government after repeatedly asking for listing data. read more

Flag of Saint Lucia By Celina DeCastroOn this day in 1979, February 22, the island of Saint Lucia became fully independent from British control. Allowing John Compton of the United Worker’s Party (UWP) to become the first Prime Minister.Saint Lucia, one of the Windward Islands, was originally home to the Arawak tribe until 800 A.D. when the Carib tribe dominated the island.England first attempted to colonize the island 1605 and 1638, but failed due to the aggressiveness from the Carib tribe. The first official settlement was achieved by the French in 1746.Control of the island has changed 14 times between the English and the French between the 17th century and 1800’s. England gained final control in 1814 as part of the Treaty of Paris after the Napoleonic Wars.English became the island’s official language in 1842.The island developed a plantation economy based on sugar cane and labor of enslaved Africans until slavery was abolished in 1834. In 1882, indentured Indians arrived to work the agricultural industry, where many remained.In 1951, all citizens over the age of 21 were granted the right to vote, in an attempt to move towards independence.In 1967, Saint Lucia received its constitution to be included in the Federated States of the Antilles, allowing the island to self-govern.Saint Lucia remains a parliamentary democracy within the British commonwealth after gaining its independence in 1979. read more

The estimated total passage of Kenai River late-run large king salmon through July 17 is 3,439 fish. Based on average run-timing, passage is 25% complete through this date, which projects afinal escapement of under 14,000 fish. FacebookTwitterEmailPrintFriendly分享The Department of Fish and Game has announced the closure of drift gillnetting in the Central District of Upper Cook Inlet and also set gillnetting in the East Foreland Section of the Upper Subdistrict from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., today. In the Kasilof River, the total estimated sockeye salmon passage through July 17 is 149,000 fish. Based on average run-timing, passage in the Kasilof River is 57% complete and projects a final passage estimate of 259,000 fish, which is within the biological escapement goal (BEG) for this river of 160,000–340,000 fish. Final passage estimates in the Kenai River have declined from 840,000 fish on July 13 to the present estimate. Set gillnetting however, will be open within one-half mile of the mean high tide mark on the Kenai Peninsula shoreline in the Kasilof Section of the Upper Subdistrict and will be open within 600 feet of the mean high tide mark of the Kenai Peninsula shoreline in that portion of the Kenai Section of the Upper Subdistrict south of the southern ADF&G regulatory marker from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., today. The estimated total sockeye salmon passage in the Kenai River through July 17 was 124,000 fish. Based on average run-timing, passage is 28% complete through this date and projects a final passage of approximately 440,000 fish, which is well below the inriver goal range of 1.0–1.3 million fish for Kenai River sockeye salmon. read more

Chairperson of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) women’s committee, Elaine Walker-Brown, fully endorses the move by FIFA to get more women involved in the decision-making process of national football bodies.On March 9-10, FIFA Senior Governance Manager, Sarah Solemale, met with members of the JFF on matters regarding the organisation’s statutes, and among the recommendations was an insistence on greater gender inclusion on the board and it being clearly stated in the revised statutes.Walker-Brown, who is also the president of the St Catherine Football Association, believes there are enough women with the experience, expertise and passion for the sport to sit in any capacity. Nevertheless, she believes that only the most competent people should be given the responsibility to serve.“It’s a good move and not in the sense of just for getting women on the board for the sake of it. It’s a fact that we (women) are equipped, a lot of us have the knowledge, know-how and the passion and we are able to govern. So it’s only fair that we (women) are given the chance, equally as the men, as we know we can do it.“We are equipped, we have learnt, we have been exposed and we have the know-how. So we are equal, we can play as well (as men), we can administrate as well and we can govern as well. So we want more women on the board and having at least two women elected to the board is very good,” she said. PERMANENT CHANGE FIFA is also demanding more female presence in the areas of finance, legal, commercial and marketing and Walker-Brown thinks this will forever change the way we operate as football associations.“So you don’t just vote to put your friends there, you put people who have the knowledge and skill sets to move the sport forward. For example, there are not a lot of women out there that are for women’s football, so you have to be very careful. You have to make sure it is the right persons, because you will get two women and they are not for women’s football. So it is not just women coming on the board, but women who are interested in playing their part whatever gender. It is about moving football at all levels,” Walker-Brown said.She also expects the federation to move speedily in implementing these recommendations before the December 2020 deadline.“This (process) is not for the (2023 JFF) elections, everybody in office (now) have four years, but all of this must be in place by December. I expect there will be a little delay because she (Solemale) was going to send her draft (to the JFF) by the end of May/June. Then JFF would respond by the end of June, then we would have some town hall meetings, so everyone could be more educated of the changes coming to the JFF,” Walker-Brown shared. read more

Parwkay’s Justin Rogers and Benton’s Brandy Harris had big games in their teams’ high school basketball victories Saturday night.Rogers scored 29 points to lead the Panthers (10-7) to a 57-29 victory over Alexandria Senior High. He had 10 points in the fourth quarter and made 11 of 12 free throws in the game.Bobby James added 13 points.Harris scored 30 points in Benton’s 54-51 victory over Byrd. Emily Ward chipped in with 12 as the Lady Tigers improved to 15-7.Benton overcame a four-point deficit at the start of the final quarter.— Russell Hedges, rhedges@bossierpress.comTop Expat InsuranceExpat Living in Hong Kong without Health Insurance?Top Expat Insurance|SponsoredSponsoredUndoNews gadgetThis watch takes the whole country by storm! it’s price? Ridiculous!News gadget|SponsoredSponsoredUndoTheTopFiveVPNThe Trick Netflix Doesn’t Want You To Know To Unlock RestrictionsTheTopFiveVPN|SponsoredSponsoredUndoPerfect-Dating.comAre You Ready to Meet Cool Guys in Tung Chung?Perfect-Dating.com|SponsoredSponsoredUndoTheTopFiveVPNThe Secret Netflix Doesn’t Want You To Know To Unblock RestrictionsTheTopFiveVPN|SponsoredSponsoredUndoCelebsland.com9 Celebrity Before-And-After Plastic Surgery DisastersCelebsland.com|SponsoredSponsoredUndo read more

The Belgium international had to wait until December to make his debut in the Premier League, when he came on as a substitute against Chelsea. He got his first league start against Tottenham Hotspur the same month.Nuno Espírito Santo has handed him four more starts in the league and the last one was against Everton on Saturday.The 23-year-old started in midfield against the Toffees and played a key role in his side’s victory over the Merseyside club.It was even more special for Dendoncker because the versatile player, who can play in the back four or midfield, netted his first goal for the English club. This has seen him make it La Gazzetta dello Sport’s European Team of the Week.Even though Dendoncker played in midfield, the Italian newspaper have considered him as a defender and given him a rating of 7.5. After early struggles, it looks like Wolves’ decision to sign him is finally paying off.by Taboolaby TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored LinksPromoted LinksPromoted LinksTrending TodayForge of Empires – Free Online GameBuild a Beautiful City and Play With Your FriendsForge of Empires – Free Online GameUndoRaid: Shadow Legends | Free DownloadEven Non-Gamers Are Obsessed With This RPG Game (It’s Worth Installing!)Raid: Shadow Legends | Free DownloadUndoDating.comWhere do attractive singles meet in Tung Chung?Dating.comUndoPerfect-Dating.comReveal Tung Chung As The Best City to Date for Love & RomancePerfect-Dating.comUndoKeto减肥1個簡單的妙招一夜「融化」腹部贅肉（今晚試試）Keto减肥UndoStanChart by CNBC CatalystWill Blockchain Reduce the Global Trade Finance Gap to Reach the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals?StanChart by CNBC CatalystUndo熱門話題小心會長過頭…網友推爆:「真的長得超誇張!」熱門話題UndoSingles50Hong Kong: A 40+ Dating Site That Actually Works!Singles50UndoCoworking Space | Search AdsThe cost of shared office in Hong Kong might surprise youCoworking Space | Search AdsUndo Since joining Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan from Anderlecht last summer, Leander Dendoncker struggled for minutes in the first half of the season. read more

Saw this posted on Brand New yesterday. Not bad. Although it seams silly since this conference might go away in the near future anyway.http://www.undercons…nce_by_gsdm.phpHuh? Did you miss the long grant of rights signed by all the teams? They aren’t going anywhere. And this logo came out a couple weeks ago at B12 media days.Sorry to ruin your day bro. My bad. By meetthemets, August 2, 2013 in Sports Logo News Spearhead Sports Logos Link to post 428 posts Sign in to follow this   Followers 0 282 Location:Twin Cities Prev 1 2 Next 0 guest23 Members Posted April 18, 2014 meetthemets 1 Members the admiral Members Share this post 0 Share this post 121 reminds me of the FAU logo…regardless it’s an ugly downgrade. Share this post Location:The DMV 1 gdu What if there were no hypothetical questions? Link to post jstraper 37 Location:Austin, Texas Link to post 0 19 49 386 Posted August 3, 2013 ESTONES6 386 1,296 posts Next Members 0 Members Link to post Not a bad logo. I still miss the Big 8. Share on other sites JPDesign 0 Share this post Share this post Share this post Lights Out ESTONES6 Lights Out Link to post 49 0 Share on other sites Allow me to write a 1,000-page thesis on why they shouldn’t have gotten rid of the beveling. 1,612 posts Recommended Posts Displaced Washingtonian 0 Share this post 0 Members DCDuck 1 Sports Logo News Posted August 2, 2013 27 Zerakus 91 posts Members Share this post 27 19 26,359 posts Link to post Posted August 5, 2013 the admiral Link to post 818 Share on other sites 49 49 posts 4,356 121 Favourite Logos:North Stars Members This topic is now closed to further replies. All Activity 1,296 posts gdu Posted August 4, 2013 Much better, that will make a sharp patch. 3,236 posts gdu Board Man + Young Trece Link to post New Big 12 Logo I like the original Big 12 logo better… Not a fan of the modernization. Also getting rid of the gray in the XII makes it look a little strange. Isn’t the Big 12 the most stable it’s been in ages? Don’t really see them splitting up anytime soon. If anything, they’d probably expand. Share this post Link to post 0 18 1,252 Link to post Share on other sites 4,356 Favourite Logos:*Devil Rays alternate cap logo, 1998*Red Sox cap logo*Chargers primary logo*Lake Elsinore Storm cap logo Posted August 4, 2013 Share this post 0 26,192 Members 54 Definitely like it more than the previous logo. It needed an update badly.I still see this when I look at it though… Saw this posted on Brand New yesterday. Not bad. Although it seams silly since this conference might go away in the near future anyway.http://www.undercons…nce_by_gsdm.php 7,383 posts Share this post 642 posts Members 1 Share on other sites Sports 18 Share on other sites Share this post 0 Posted August 2, 2013 DC in Da House w/o a Doubt Share this post Favourite Logos:USFL’s Florida Tuskers Page 1 of 2   Sports Logos sluggermatt15 Members Share on other sites Bringing up old thread.This is the first actual usage I have seen of the new logo. It seems to be on the hurdles in KU colors for this weekends Kansas Relays gdu 160 KCCO Share on other sites Soarindude Share this post Posted August 3, 2013 Share on other sites 282 Posted August 3, 2013 Link to post 4,044 posts Forums Home Members meetthemets Posted August 2, 2013 26,192 Members 386 Location:Kansas City, MO Hontas Posted August 2, 2013 Location:Austin, Texas Location:Cleveland, OH Posted August 4, 2013 I apologize for any decorum Location:Louisville, KY Prev 0 1 3,472 posts Hontas 7 New Big 12 Logo Link to post 19 This just looks like a bad Backyard Wrestling logo. imawalkingcorpse tajmccall Posted August 2, 2013 7 Share this post sluggermatt15 282 Share on other sites 160 Share on other sites 0 5,583 posts 6,236 posts Posted August 2, 2013 0 Share on other sites Page 1 of 2   Share on other sites As long as they recolor it into each team’s colors when used on uniforms, fields, courts, etc, I’ll be happy. Remember the first year of the new Mountain West logo??… Oh god…. I think I’m gonna…. (Wretching sounds) Favourite Logos:I love old, classic/vintage logos. I love franchises like the Yankees, Celtics and Browns who keep the same basic style of uniform for years. 0 Members 0 jstraper 160 Share on other sites Share this post Members New Big 12 Logo SportsLogos.Net 3,104 posts 818 3,583 0 27 18 SportsLogos.Net 18 imawalkingcorpse Link to post Coheed Share on other sites 54 Forums Home DCDuck Members Posted April 17, 2014 4,356 Link to post 2,019 posts Looks like an upside-down eject button icon with a bunch of arrows pointing towards the middle of the “X” (“X marks to spot”).I find it very tame. Don’t like the subtle gradient (why even have it at all?).Also reminds me of the Super Bowl 38 logo. 160 Share this post Meh… I liked the old one better. 0 26,192 Members Saw this posted on Brand New yesterday. Not bad. Although it seams silly since this conference might go away in the near future anyway.http://www.undercons…nce_by_gsdm.phpHuh? Did you miss the long grant of rights signed by all the teams? They aren’t going anywhere. And this logo came out a couple weeks ago at B12 media days.Sorry to ruin your day bro. My bad.I’m not your bro and you didn’t have any effect on my day. 18 Zerakus Members meetthemets Soarindude 2 All Activity Posted April 17, 2014 0 Spearhead Share this post Not a bad logo. I still miss the Big 8.Yeah, well, the Big 8 sucked.This logo is an upgrade from the old version. Share on other sites Link to post Link to post Members tajmccall Share on other sites 7,383 posts 3,583 37 160 37 I still pray that the Big XII doesn’t start introducing patches.It’s a pet peeve of mine, and I’m glad they’re one of the lone remaining holdouts. Link to post 54 Sports Logo News 160 Posted August 3, 2013 Posted August 5, 2013 Coheed 57,915 posts 2,699 posts Share on other sites I like it. It’s clean, sharp, and recognizable. 0 394 posts Share on other sites Share on other sites 1,252 3,583 7 Location:Republic of Texas 18 Share this post JPDesign 0 Share this post Saw this posted on Brand New yesterday. Not bad. Although it seams silly since this conference might go away in the near future anyway.http://www.undercons…nce_by_gsdm.phpHuh? Did you miss the long grant of rights signed by all the teams? They aren’t going anywhere. And this logo came out a couple weeks ago at B12 media days. DC in Da House w/o a Doubt Posted April 17, 2014 1,252 Sign in to follow this   121 0 Link to post Followers 0 Link to post 818 meetthemets Go To Topic Listing Members Posted August 5, 2013 It’s an improvement. Link to post I’m the dude playin’ the dude, disguised as another dude guest23 read more