The judgment on the case that threatens to derail the government’s legal aid cuts has been “reserved”, with the judges hoping to rule within a “short space of time”. Here is what has happened so far.
1. #OpCotton, an abbreviation for the “Operation Cotton” case, or, to give it its proper name, R v Crawley and others, has famously pitted the Prime Minister against his criminal barrister brother.
#OpCotton appeal today. #Cameron #CameronsBrother #Grayling Here's the movie ICYMI. pic.twitter.com/BDn6aUxar0
— beaubodor (@beaubodor) May 13, 2014
2. Alex Cameron QC of Three Raymond Buildings has been acting “bro bono” (according to a typo in the first instance judgment) for five defendants accused of a complex fraud. Last week he argued that the legal aid cuts made it impossible for the defendants to gather a proper defence team. No barristers would take on the case in full because the government has cut their fees in complex cases by 30%.
–@JackofKent Best bit of judgment? Mr Alex Cameron QC is acting “bro bono”. I bet that’s what DC thinks too #OpCotton pic.twitter.com/rXchdWzULQ
— Seb Cameron (@sebcameron) May 1, 2014
3. Cameron QC won, with Judge Leonard QC accepting his arguments and staying (aka terminating) the proceedings. The judge said that it would clog up the courts to adjourn the case, adding that there was no reason to think that the defendants would be able to find suitably qualified barristers to represent them in the future.
http://t.co/mHlJjjtEJM On #mayday lets hear it for Alex Cameron #opcotton #saveukjustice
— Jennie Hart (@nettleg) May 1, 2014
4. The decision left Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, who has been the driving force behind the cuts, under pressure.
@failinggrayling if you were a football manager……
http://t.co/QNjchLF538
#opcotton
— Paul Prior (@PaulSPrior) May 2, 2014
5. Having decided to appeal the ruling, the government retreated to prepare its case.
Grayling invites Lithman to dinner to discuss fallout from #Opcotton http://t.co/9rtAXkh8rg via @youtube
— Oliver Kirk (@Kirkabout) May 6, 2014
6. That appeal began this morning at the Court of Appeal, with the legal profession seeking to hold its position and the government arguing that the case should have been adjourned rather than stayed.
@CDaviesJones @legalhackette #opcotton #holdtheline or #holdyourposition https://t.co/2F7jVPLQqX
— Simon Bee (@Pigfarmer44) May 13, 2014
7. After a tense day in court, journalists nervously awaited the outcome.
Given Leveson's and other judges' *unconvinced faces* at Cameron's answers, impossible to call how appeal will go. #OpCotton
— Jack of Kent (@JackofKent) May 13, 2014
8. In legal aid lawyers’ dreams this is what happened next…
#OpCotton pic.twitter.com/iM2qq3wQ9b
— Keima Payton (@KeimaPayton) May 13, 2014
9. But, in reality, this is what happened.
Court of Appeal judgment on the #OpCotton fraud trial has been reserved. Judges hope to rule within a "short space of time"
— Danny Shaw (@DannyShawBBC) May 13, 2014
For the latest news on the ruling follow the #OpCotton hashtag.