We would like to draw readers’ attention to the recent updates to our “Forthcoming Cases” table.   This covers two categories of media law cases.  First, those which have been heard and where judgment has been reserved.  We have now expanded the table to cover all the cases we are aware of (in particular, those which we have listed at the end of our weekly round ups).  

One case in which judgment is awaited stands out – Von Hannover v Germany (No.2), heard by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights over a year ago, on 13 October 2010.  We had a post about the hearing at the time.  In a recent communication, the Court Press Service has informed us that it has no information as when this judgment will be handed down.  As a number of observers have remarked, if the Court was subject to the “reasonable time” provisions of Article 6, it would be obliged to find itself in clear breach.   There may be some time to wait for the decision – the Grand Chamber heard the important Article 6 case of Al-Khawaja v United Kingdom on 19 May 2010 and has still not given judgment.

As to forthcoming cases, we have added all the media law cases pending before the Court of Appeal which were are aware of.  Some of these have been given permission and are listed for hearing – including two in the forthcoming week (Berezovsky v Terluk and Cambridge v Makin).   Permission to appeal was recentlygranted in the case of Ashcroft v Foley.  Decisions on permission are awaited in cases such as Ferdinand v MGN and Thornton v Telegraph Media Group (in both cases, after trials in the Queen’s Bench Division).   We have also handed some cases from other jurisdictions and we would be happy to add more if they are drawn to our attention.

We would be grateful to readers for information about any other reserved judgments or forthcoming appeals.  We would, if possible, like to post Skeleton Arguments and other relevant court documents.  Please contact us on inforrmeditorial@gmail.com if you have any information.