Sophia Dourou
@sophiadourou.bsky.social
Reporter covering the courts for Law360. Labrador enthusiast. Hot takes and opinions are all my own. She/her
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
Juries are not perfect.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Juries are not perfect.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Many of the worst miscarriages of justice have followed jury trials.
But the merit of juries is not so much the power they have, but the power they prevent others from having.
They mean a judge cannot just nod-along with prosecution evidence and give a guilty verdict.
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
This government has not taken a single meaningful step to tackle the causes of the horrendous inefficiencies in the criminal justice system, instead rushing to dismantle trial by jury.
Legal professionals have offered numerous alternatives to address the backlog.
Ministers are not listening.
Legal professionals have offered numerous alternatives to address the backlog.
Ministers are not listening.
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
Exclusive: Courts minister says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog
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UK politics live – latest updates
Criminals will be stopped from “gaming the system” by choosing trial by jury in order to increase the chances of proceedings collapsing, the courts minister has said, promising to enact radical changes to limit jury trials by the next election.
Drug dealers and career criminals were “laughing in the dock” knowing cases can take years to come to trial, Sarah Sackman told the Guardian, saying inaction would be a road to “chaos and ruin”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:57 AM
This government has not taken a single meaningful step to tackle the causes of the horrendous inefficiencies in the criminal justice system, instead rushing to dismantle trial by jury.
Legal professionals have offered numerous alternatives to address the backlog.
Ministers are not listening.
Legal professionals have offered numerous alternatives to address the backlog.
Ministers are not listening.
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
LLMs give people with delusional belief systems a way to organise those beliefs. The model fills in gaps, supplies connective tissue, and wraps the madness in formal language.
It doesn't make the claims more credible to us, it just tidies them up.
It doesn't make the claims more credible to us, it just tidies them up.
November 19, 2025 at 2:22 PM
LLMs give people with delusional belief systems a way to organise those beliefs. The model fills in gaps, supplies connective tissue, and wraps the madness in formal language.
It doesn't make the claims more credible to us, it just tidies them up.
It doesn't make the claims more credible to us, it just tidies them up.
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
November 19, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
Cyclist turns down trans exclusionary honour for woman cyclists (and you can feel the BBC’s teeth grinding about it).
"If they don't want to ride with all women, then it's not the kind of ride I want to be part of".
"If they don't want to ride with all women, then it's not the kind of ride I want to be part of".
Woman refuses Cycling UK award over trans women being left out
Claire Sharpe says she disagrees with Cycling UK only naming biological women in their top 100 list.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Cyclist turns down trans exclusionary honour for woman cyclists (and you can feel the BBC’s teeth grinding about it).
"If they don't want to ride with all women, then it's not the kind of ride I want to be part of".
"If they don't want to ride with all women, then it's not the kind of ride I want to be part of".
This in equal measures depressing and terrifying. We are sleepwalking into disaster
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 5:28 PM
This in equal measures depressing and terrifying. We are sleepwalking into disaster
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
Sacrificial lamb. We haven't forgotten what really happened. By @rothandrew.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
What happened to Jamal Khashoggi? Trump resurfaces memories of journalist’s brutal murder
President’s claim that Mohammed bin Salman had nothing to do with 2018 killing contradicts US intelligence
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Sacrificial lamb. We haven't forgotten what really happened. By @rothandrew.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
The fact that Grok has been spewing the white South African genocide theory and now straight up holocaust denial has nothing to do with the views of its creator, I'm sure
November 19, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The fact that Grok has been spewing the white South African genocide theory and now straight up holocaust denial has nothing to do with the views of its creator, I'm sure
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
Spencer, unlike Dick Cheney, doesn’t shoot and miss.
All day, many of you have been asking for a Cheney obituary from me. Get ready:
His Works Completed, Dick Cheney, Mass Murderer of Iraqis and American Democracy, Dies
As much as the Trumpists claim to disavow the War on Terror, they walk a path paved by the most powerful vice president in U.S. history.
www.thenation.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Spencer, unlike Dick Cheney, doesn’t shoot and miss.
Incoming far right online firestorm about the WOKE POPE
BREAKING: After ICE refuses to allow detained migrants to receive the Eucharist, Pope Leo calls on Trump and Vance to respect migrants‘ dignity and religious liberty.
“They must allow ministers to assist with their needs. They've been separated from their families and no one knows what happens.”
“They must allow ministers to assist with their needs. They've been separated from their families and no one knows what happens.”
November 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Incoming far right online firestorm about the WOKE POPE
Thoughts and prayers with any court reporters who somehow had to keep a straight face while hearing this line
Border Patrol agent Lairmore testifies that he was not injured by the sandwich, but he felt the impact through his ballistic vest.
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
November 4, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thoughts and prayers with any court reporters who somehow had to keep a straight face while hearing this line
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
This colossal Times of London/de Blasio screwup gets more amazing at every turn.
Scoop via @maxtani.bsky.social
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
Scoop via @maxtani.bsky.social
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
October 30, 2025 at 1:26 AM
This colossal Times of London/de Blasio screwup gets more amazing at every turn.
Scoop via @maxtani.bsky.social
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
Scoop via @maxtani.bsky.social
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
I think about this scene from House a lot
October 6, 2025 at 1:00 PM
I think about this scene from House a lot
I recommend anyone interested in the case read the full High Court judgement. The behaviour described, which Mrs Justice Steyn found to be substantially true, is stomach churning
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
August 22, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I recommend anyone interested in the case read the full High Court judgement. The behaviour described, which Mrs Justice Steyn found to be substantially true, is stomach churning
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...
I hate that we even have to frame this transphobic ruling in terms of how it affects cis women, but here we are
It was always going to work out this way, but the real problem isn't bigots challenging cis women who want to take a piss, it's harassing anyone who just wants to exist in publlic
It was always going to work out this way, but the real problem isn't bigots challenging cis women who want to take a piss, it's harassing anyone who just wants to exist in publlic
‘I’ve been spat on’: gender non-conforming women tell of toilet abuse in aftermath of supreme court ruling
‘I’ve been spat on’: gender non-conforming women tell of toilet abuse in aftermath of supreme court ruling
Support groups report that women and non-binary people are increasingly being challenged in toilets and changing facilities – but others call it scaremongering
www.theguardian.com
August 12, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I hate that we even have to frame this transphobic ruling in terms of how it affects cis women, but here we are
It was always going to work out this way, but the real problem isn't bigots challenging cis women who want to take a piss, it's harassing anyone who just wants to exist in publlic
It was always going to work out this way, but the real problem isn't bigots challenging cis women who want to take a piss, it's harassing anyone who just wants to exist in publlic
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
Letter of the day (in the Times)
August 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Letter of the day (in the Times)
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
Astonishing that this isn't being talked about more: the UK is still trading huge volumes of goods with Israel. Where are the sanctions? Non-existent.
At this rate, Gaza will be completely destroyed before the UK Govt suspends trade.
Via Private Eye (do buy it):
At this rate, Gaza will be completely destroyed before the UK Govt suspends trade.
Via Private Eye (do buy it):
August 11, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Astonishing that this isn't being talked about more: the UK is still trading huge volumes of goods with Israel. Where are the sanctions? Non-existent.
At this rate, Gaza will be completely destroyed before the UK Govt suspends trade.
Via Private Eye (do buy it):
At this rate, Gaza will be completely destroyed before the UK Govt suspends trade.
Via Private Eye (do buy it):
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
I decided I want to go back to not drinking, I use this great app I Am Sober a huge part of which is the community feature where you can make friends and get support and motivation, it’s now unavailable for UK ppl due to the online safety act….in case teenagers are illicitly trying to get sober?
August 8, 2025 at 7:56 AM
I decided I want to go back to not drinking, I use this great app I Am Sober a huge part of which is the community feature where you can make friends and get support and motivation, it’s now unavailable for UK ppl due to the online safety act….in case teenagers are illicitly trying to get sober?
"The crew of four, which included Mike Bates who is a British record holder for rowing across the Atlantic solo, said they found the post "hilarious".
"The best comment was the one asking where the Royal Navy were when you need them. I'm a former Royal Marine, so the Royal Navy were on the boat."
💀
"The best comment was the one asking where the Royal Navy were when you need them. I'm a former Royal Marine, so the Royal Navy were on the boat."
💀
August 8, 2025 at 8:53 AM
"The crew of four, which included Mike Bates who is a British record holder for rowing across the Atlantic solo, said they found the post "hilarious".
"The best comment was the one asking where the Royal Navy were when you need them. I'm a former Royal Marine, so the Royal Navy were on the boat."
💀
"The best comment was the one asking where the Royal Navy were when you need them. I'm a former Royal Marine, so the Royal Navy were on the boat."
💀
Oh he’s sundowning
asked a question about Russiagate that he struggles to hear, a confused Trump starts ranting about the Epstein files
July 30, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Oh he’s sundowning
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
Tepid is no response to genocide
UK will recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel meets certain conditions, Starmer says - live updates
The recognition will happen unless Israel takes
www.bbc.co.uk
July 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Tepid is no response to genocide
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
Funny and yet horrifically true summing up. Do watch; they’re very good at what they do.
July 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Funny and yet horrifically true summing up. Do watch; they’re very good at what they do.
Reposted by Sophia Dourou
Everything is awful but guide dogs are being trained using toy squirrels stuck to remote control cars. And you need to see it
July 24, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Everything is awful but guide dogs are being trained using toy squirrels stuck to remote control cars. And you need to see it