Samuel Willis
@samuelwillis.bsky.social
Barrister. History, politics, constitutions, international/EU law
A general call to my admittedly modest following – If you are an art / music journalist or writer, please do get in touch, I have an interesting opportunity/lead
November 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
A general call to my admittedly modest following – If you are an art / music journalist or writer, please do get in touch, I have an interesting opportunity/lead
Reposted by Samuel Willis
Judy Stone KC and new tenant Jack Steele discuss Szucs and what it takes to strike out a claim for abuse of process in this months’ episode of the Employment Podcast. #ukemplaw
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
Judy Stone KC and Jack Steele discuss strike outs for abuse of process in Szucs | 11KBW
The October episode of the 11KBW Employment Podcast is out now. In this month’s episode of the Employment Podcast, Judy Stone KC and new tenant Jack Steele…
www.11kbw.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Judy Stone KC and new tenant Jack Steele discuss Szucs and what it takes to strike out a claim for abuse of process in this months’ episode of the Employment Podcast. #ukemplaw
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
Reposted by Samuel Willis
Jones v Police Federation, Employment Tribunal, Case No 1604160/2024 (28 August 2025)
The claimant, a police Branch Secretary, was a non-contractual office holder and didn’t fall within the category entitled to whistleblower protections in Employment Rights Act 1996. BUT the tribunal found…
The claimant, a police Branch Secretary, was a non-contractual office holder and didn’t fall within the category entitled to whistleblower protections in Employment Rights Act 1996. BUT the tribunal found…
October 31, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Jones v Police Federation, Employment Tribunal, Case No 1604160/2024 (28 August 2025)
The claimant, a police Branch Secretary, was a non-contractual office holder and didn’t fall within the category entitled to whistleblower protections in Employment Rights Act 1996. BUT the tribunal found…
The claimant, a police Branch Secretary, was a non-contractual office holder and didn’t fall within the category entitled to whistleblower protections in Employment Rights Act 1996. BUT the tribunal found…
Reposted by Samuel Willis
A speech by Lord Sales on the "past and future" of the European Court of Human Rights:
"the arc towards process-based review seems, therefore, to be justified"
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
"the arc towards process-based review seems, therefore, to be justified"
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
supremecourt.uk
October 23, 2025 at 11:05 AM
A speech by Lord Sales on the "past and future" of the European Court of Human Rights:
"the arc towards process-based review seems, therefore, to be justified"
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
"the arc towards process-based review seems, therefore, to be justified"
supremecourt.uk/uploads/spee...
Reposted by Samuel Willis
Reposted by Samuel Willis
For human rights scholars and court-watchers, here's a thread of some forthcoming ECHR/HRA in the UK Supreme Court's docket for the upcoming legal year (2025-26).
I think there are (at least) six cases worth keeping an eye on.
I think there are (at least) six cases worth keeping an eye on.
September 30, 2025 at 2:29 PM
For human rights scholars and court-watchers, here's a thread of some forthcoming ECHR/HRA in the UK Supreme Court's docket for the upcoming legal year (2025-26).
I think there are (at least) six cases worth keeping an eye on.
I think there are (at least) six cases worth keeping an eye on.
Reposted by Samuel Willis
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled, 20 years after the landmark Hirst case, that an applicant prisoner's inability to vote in a UK General Election did not breach the Convention.
Hora v United Kingdom (23 September 2025): hudoc.echr.coe.int?i=001-244851
Some quick thoughts from me:
1/7
Hora v United Kingdom (23 September 2025): hudoc.echr.coe.int?i=001-244851
Some quick thoughts from me:
1/7
HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights
The HUDOC database provides access to the case-law of the Court (Grand Chamber, Chamber and Committee judgments and decisions, communicated cases, advisory opinions and legal summaries from the Case-L...
hudoc.echr.coe.int
September 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled, 20 years after the landmark Hirst case, that an applicant prisoner's inability to vote in a UK General Election did not breach the Convention.
Hora v United Kingdom (23 September 2025): hudoc.echr.coe.int?i=001-244851
Some quick thoughts from me:
1/7
Hora v United Kingdom (23 September 2025): hudoc.echr.coe.int?i=001-244851
Some quick thoughts from me:
1/7
Reposted by Samuel Willis
.@jamellebouie.net and I have started a weekly politics show attached on the @unclearpod.bsky.social patreon. — t.co/1C7jvpo2R1
https://www.patreon.com/posts/unclear-and-ep-2-138988754
t.co
September 16, 2025 at 11:53 AM
.@jamellebouie.net and I have started a weekly politics show attached on the @unclearpod.bsky.social patreon. — t.co/1C7jvpo2R1
Reposted by Samuel Willis
Sort of dizzying to think about how many people are alive today because Patricia Hewitt (ban on smoking in enclosed spaces) was health secretary and because Norman Fowler (mandatory seatbelts) was transport secretary and health secretary (HIV/Aids).
September 3, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Sort of dizzying to think about how many people are alive today because Patricia Hewitt (ban on smoking in enclosed spaces) was health secretary and because Norman Fowler (mandatory seatbelts) was transport secretary and health secretary (HIV/Aids).
Reposted by Samuel Willis
@samuelwillis.bsky.social is a contributor to a new book, Public Law and the UK Supreme Court: Key Cases and Decisions, which has been published today.
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
August 15, 2025 at 8:24 AM
@samuelwillis.bsky.social is a contributor to a new book, Public Law and the UK Supreme Court: Key Cases and Decisions, which has been published today.
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
Reposted by Samuel Willis
Happy to see that our twin Routledge volumes on landmark UKSC cases are due to be released NEXT MONTH - 15 August 2025.
Public Law: www.routledge.com/Public-Law-a...
Private Law: www.routledge.com/Private-Law-...
Public Law: www.routledge.com/Public-Law-a...
Private Law: www.routledge.com/Private-Law-...
July 17, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Happy to see that our twin Routledge volumes on landmark UKSC cases are due to be released NEXT MONTH - 15 August 2025.
Public Law: www.routledge.com/Public-Law-a...
Private Law: www.routledge.com/Private-Law-...
Public Law: www.routledge.com/Public-Law-a...
Private Law: www.routledge.com/Private-Law-...
Reposted by Samuel Willis
School sanctions: powers and duties administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/07/31/s...
School sanctions: powers and duties
The education system of England and Wales is governed by a thicket of statutory provisions. Most of these provisions have not been subjected to litigation – educators and civil servants abide by an…
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com
July 31, 2025 at 5:14 PM
School sanctions: powers and duties administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/07/31/s...
Blog with Gabriel Tan on what constitutes a materially relevant consideration & an arguable gloss by the CA on the classic statement of the law by the SC in Friends of the Earth.
A Gloss on the Friends of the Earth test for what constitutes a materially relevant consideration? administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/07/24/a...
A Gloss on the Friends of the Earth test for what constitutes a materially relevant consideration?
The world of planning law once again proves itself to be a motor for the development of public law principles. This time, Lewis LJ saw a chance to develop the public law requirement on decision-mak…
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com
July 24, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Blog with Gabriel Tan on what constitutes a materially relevant consideration & an arguable gloss by the CA on the classic statement of the law by the SC in Friends of the Earth.
Great bit of history here on the constitutional nuts and bolts of devolution
An enduring legacy of Bloomfield's Stormont career is one specific contribution to the (short-lived) Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. He was one of the senior civil servants working on the Bill which became the 1973 Act. A small point which solved a huge problem. 1/
Sir Kenneth Bloomfield: Former Northern Ireland Civil Service chief dies aged 94
June 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Great bit of history here on the constitutional nuts and bolts of devolution
Re Higgs v Farmor's School, it's somewhat odd how at [68] Underhill LJ states that in Page v NHS the Court held "there had been an interference with his right to manifest his beliefs under article 9", citing [52]-[63] of Page, when at [51] of Page Underhill LJ says the CA did not determine the issue
May 17, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Re Higgs v Farmor's School, it's somewhat odd how at [68] Underhill LJ states that in Page v NHS the Court held "there had been an interference with his right to manifest his beliefs under article 9", citing [52]-[63] of Page, when at [51] of Page Underhill LJ says the CA did not determine the issue
Reposted by Samuel Willis
When every party to an appeal agrees that the judgment was wrong, something *has* gone wrong. This is about liberty, and whether a local authority with a care order can ever consent to its deprivation for a child. Congrats to @samuelwillis.bsky.social (led by Joanne Clement KC) for this one.
The deprivation of children’s liberty: the Human Rights Act exists for a reason administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/05/07/t...
The deprivation of children’s liberty: the Human Rights Act exists for a reason
Introduction It is a rare event where, in an appeal against a first instance judgment, all parties unequivocally say that the judgment was wrong. So it was in J v Bath and North East Somerset Counc…
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com
May 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
When every party to an appeal agrees that the judgment was wrong, something *has* gone wrong. This is about liberty, and whether a local authority with a care order can ever consent to its deprivation for a child. Congrats to @samuelwillis.bsky.social (led by Joanne Clement KC) for this one.
Reposted by Samuel Willis
Seeking views on “sufficiently crystallised” proposals will not always engage Gunning requirements for fair consultation administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/05/03/s...
Seeking views on “sufficiently crystallised” proposals will not always engage Gunning requirements for fair consultation
The Court of Appeal (Underhill LJ, with whom Dingemans and Edis LJJ agreed) has rejected the proposition that, where a public authority voluntarily seeks the views of an interested party at the for…
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com
May 3, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Seeking views on “sufficiently crystallised” proposals will not always engage Gunning requirements for fair consultation administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/05/03/s...
Reposted by Samuel Willis
@joanneclementkc.bsky.social and @samuelwillis.bsky.social acted in an important Court of Appeal case on Article 5 ECHR and the deprivation of liberty of children
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
May 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM
@joanneclementkc.bsky.social and @samuelwillis.bsky.social acted in an important Court of Appeal case on Article 5 ECHR and the deprivation of liberty of children
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
Reposted by Samuel Willis
The Court of Appeal explains why local authorities cannot consent to the confinement of children in their care: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk/the-court-of...
The Court of Appeal explains why local authorities cannot consent to the confinement of children in their care
The Court of Appeal announced on the day of the hearing of the appeal against the decision of Lieven J in Re J: Local Authority consent to Deprivation of Liberty [2024] EWHC 1690 (Fam), that it wou…
www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk
April 29, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The Court of Appeal explains why local authorities cannot consent to the confinement of children in their care: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk/the-court-of...
Reposted by Samuel Willis
We are delighted to announce that Samuel Willis has joined 11KBW as a tenant following successful completion of his pupillage.
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
Samuel Willis joins 11KBW as a tenant | 11KBW
We are delighted to announce that, upon successful completion of pupillage, Samuel Willis has accepted an offer of tenancy, effective from 10 April 2025. Samuel…
www.11kbw.com
April 10, 2025 at 11:38 AM
We are delighted to announce that Samuel Willis has joined 11KBW as a tenant following successful completion of his pupillage.
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
www.11kbw.com/knowledge-ev...
Reposted by Samuel Willis
When does LASPO require the provision of legal aid for trafficking victims wishing to seek compensation?
I wrote about the answer provided in the case of R (HJK and Others) v Director of Legal Aid Casework [2025] EWHC 774 (Admin):
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/l...
I wrote about the answer provided in the case of R (HJK and Others) v Director of Legal Aid Casework [2025] EWHC 774 (Admin):
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/l...
Legal aid for victims of trafficking
When must legal aid be provided to trafficking victims seeking compensation from the state relating to their ill treatment? This was the question for Calver J in R (HJK and Others) v Director of Le…
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com
April 1, 2025 at 1:16 PM
When does LASPO require the provision of legal aid for trafficking victims wishing to seek compensation?
I wrote about the answer provided in the case of R (HJK and Others) v Director of Legal Aid Casework [2025] EWHC 774 (Admin):
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/l...
I wrote about the answer provided in the case of R (HJK and Others) v Director of Legal Aid Casework [2025] EWHC 774 (Admin):
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/l...
Reposted by Samuel Willis
A rough and ready blog on the duty of candour in the Privy Council (my first for Admin Court Blog!).
A unified JCPC common law of judicial review? The case of the duty of candour administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/03/24/a...
A unified JCPC common law of judicial review? The case of the duty of candour
The phrase “the Privy Council has handed down an interesting judgment” is not usually a phrase that pricks the ears of public lawyers. But every so often, the Privy Council finds itself concerned n…
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com
March 24, 2025 at 5:52 PM
A rough and ready blog on the duty of candour in the Privy Council (my first for Admin Court Blog!).
Reposted by Samuel Willis
If you've been enjoying the blog, today we welcome @samuelwillis.bsky.social to our ongoing admin law nerd fest with a piece on the duty of candour from the Privy Council 🤓
A unified JCPC common law of judicial review? The case of the duty of candour administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com/2025/03/24/a...
A unified JCPC common law of judicial review? The case of the duty of candour
The phrase “the Privy Council has handed down an interesting judgment” is not usually a phrase that pricks the ears of public lawyers. But every so often, the Privy Council finds itself concerned n…
administrativecourtblog.wordpress.com
March 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
If you've been enjoying the blog, today we welcome @samuelwillis.bsky.social to our ongoing admin law nerd fest with a piece on the duty of candour from the Privy Council 🤓