In a case which seemed to signal a fundamental shift in the law on joint enterprise, providing hope to campaigners determined to end the injustice of defendants receiving life sentences for crimes they did not commit, the UK Supreme Court in Jogee (2016) ruled that the law on joint enterprise had been wrongly interpreted for 30 years.

Nevertheless, 3 years on from this momentous judgement, and with only one prisoner successful in having their conviction quashed, the effort to provide prisoners an opportunity to appeal their cases – and put an end to potential miscarriages of justice – has stalled.

In this talk, we ask why the courts, in such cases, have been reluctant to grant exceptional leave to appeal. What it will take to remedy this procedural injustice? And does Parliament needs to step in and decisively reform this area of law?

Please join the Young Fabian Law Network at the Houses of Parliament to discuss reforming the law on joint enterprise in light of the 2016 UK Supreme Court ruling in Jogee.

Speakers: Barry Sheerman MP, Felicity Gerry QC and Gloria Morrison.

Date and time: Monday 29 April, 7-8.30pm

Location:

Room C, 1 Parliament Street.

Please enter through the Portcullis House main entrance and allow sufficient time (10-15 minutes) to get through security (https://www.parliament.uk/…/visit…/maps-direction/colmap.pdf).

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>>>Barry Sheerman MP<<<
Barry Sheerman has been the Labour Co-operative Member of Parliament for Huddersfield since the 1979 general election. In November 2017, he became Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Miscarriages of Justice stating that “miscarriages of justice have a truly devastating consequence for those who are convicted. It is vital the state does everything it can to prevent them from occurring in the first place”.

Find out more about his work here: https://barrysheerman.co.uk/

>>>Felicity Gerry QC<<<
Felicity Gerry QC is a barrister at Carmelite Chambers specialising in serious and complex criminal cases. She led the appeal in Jogee before the UK Supreme Court which resulted in the ruling that the law on joint enterprise has been wrongly interpreted for the last 30 years. The BBC described this judgement as a ‘moment of genuine legal history’. Felicity will be joining us via video link from Australia.

Find out more about her work here: https://www.felicitygerry.com/

>>>Gloria Morrison<<<
Gloria Morrison helped to set up the campaign group Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association (JENGbA) and currently serves as its Campaign Coordinator. From the group’s official launch in 2010 it has been at the forefront of efforts to reform the law on joint enterprise. Since Jogee, and with only one conviction quashed, Gloria has been instrumental in calling for the courts and Parliament to end the unfairness of prisoners not being granted exceptional leave to appeal.

Find out more about her work here: http://jointenterprise.co/