Courts
Court reporting on this page covers both the UK and the United States. British stories include two men jailed at the Old Bailey in a landmark China spying case targeting Hong Kong dissidents, the scrapping of short jail terms for many offences as the prison population hits a record, and a new knife offence aimed at those who arm themselves intending violence. American coverage follows federal judges blocking parts of Trump's mail voting order and barring immigration arrests at courthouses, along with sentences over a shooting outside a Texas detention centre.
Federal judge blocks key parts of Trump's mail voting order
A Boston court sided with states arguing that running elections is a matter for states and Congress, not the White House.
Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 15 years in New York criminal sexual act case
A New York judge sentenced the former Miramax head over a first-degree criminal sexual act against former production assistant Miriam Haley.
Eight sentenced over shooting outside Texas immigration detention centre
Lengthy prison terms in a case prosecutors linked to a protest reignite debate over political extremism, public safety and the policing of demonstrations.
US judge bars immigration arrests at courthouses
A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration policy that allowed immigration officers to detain people attending court hearings.
New independent asylum appeals body promised as tribunal backlog passes 139,000
Ministers want to lift asylum and human-rights appeals out of the overloaded courts and into a faster body of trained adjudicators. Lawyers warn speed must not come at the cost of fairness.
Two men jailed at Old Bailey in landmark China spying case targeting Hong Kong dissidents
Chi Leung Wai and Chung Biu Yuen were sentenced to 10 and eight years respectively after a jury found they conducted surveillance on pro-democracy campaigners in Britain for a foreign intelligence service.
Short jail terms scrapped for many offences as prison population hits record high
Courts are now required to suspend most sentences of 12 months or less under the Sentencing Act 2026, as ministers grapple with a prison estate operating well beyond its designed capacity.
New knife offence targets those who arm themselves intending violence
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 creates an offence of carrying a blade with intent to use unlawful violence, carrying up to seven years in prison, as ministers seek to halve knife crime.
Killer jailed for life over Southampton stabbing as police conduct faces IOPC scrutiny
Vickrum Digwa was given a minimum of 21 years for murdering 18-year-old Henry Nowak, after footage emerged of officers handcuffing the victim as he said he had been stabbed.