The Open University

Juries are subject to all kinds of biases when it comes to deciding on a trial

1 March 2022

By Dr Lee John Curley, The Open University; Itiel Dror, UCL, and Dr James Munro, The Open University From CSI to Law and Order, Line of Duty and Midsomer Murders, there is huge public fascination with crime and the criminal justice system. Especially when things come to a climactic ending and jurors decide on a […]

Accolades bestowed in Business and Law Student and Alumni Awards

1 November 2021

In a year like no other, The Open University’s Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) enjoyed a double celebration for the achievements of its students and alumni. The pandemic put paid to its awards in 2020 but this year they returned, although they looked a lot different. Around 50 people gathered for the event, mostly […]

Domestic homicides remain stable during lockdown but still an enduring problem says new report commissioned by police

25 August 2021

Domestic homicides remain an ‘entrenched and enduring problem’ despite figures remaining relatively stable during lockdown, a new report drawing on research by an OU academic and commissioned by police has found. ‘Domestic Homicides and Suspected Victim Suicides During the Covid-19 Pandemic 2020-2021’ is the first report of the Domestic Homicide Project, established by the National […]

Geronimo the alpaca – the case for animals having the same legal rights as people

17 August 2021

Written by Fred Motson, Lecturer in Law, at The Open University. The fate of Geronimo the alpaca was seemingly sealed in the UK’s high court recently when the appeal against an order to slaughter him was rejected. After twice testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB), Geronimo’s death was ordered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural […]

Impact of COVID-19 on weddings reinforces need for marriage law reforms

9 July 2021

Research by Dr Stephanie Pywell, from The Open University and Professor Rebecca Probert from the University of Exeter into the impact of COVID-19 on weddings has reinforced the need for marriage law reforms. Complications thrown up after events were cancelled due to the various lockdowns resulted in hundreds finding it difficult to reconvene, the research […]

Reforming Scotland’s unique jury system: why we need to listen to lawyers

25 May 2021

Lee John Curley, James Munro, Jim Turner and Lara Frumkin, all from The Open University discuss reforming Scotland’s unique jury system. Rape Crisis Scotland has once again called for the country’s not proven verdict to be scrapped, after new figures revealed that almost a quarter of all rape and attempted rape cases ended in acquittals under this […]

Open University students receive top scholarship awards from prestigious Gray’s Inn

5 May 2021

Three Open University Law students have been awarded scholarships from the highly regarded Gray’s Inn – one of the four Inns of Court which has the exclusive right to call men and women to the Bar of England and Wales. The prestigious scholarships recognise merit, intellectual ability, advocacy and drive and determination to succeed at […]

Award success for OU’s Open Justice Centre

23 March 2021

The Education for Justice initiative (E4J) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in which The Open University has played a pivotal role, has won the United Nations Secretary-General 2020 Innovation award. The prestigious global award recognises the vital work that E4J does to directly engage children, youth, teachers and academics to […]

OU academic’s research into extent and nature of dog theft in the UK

3 March 2021

Dog theft has featured heavily in the media recently, with victims sharing the distress of having a much loved pet stolen. It’s an issue that hit the headlines last week when singer Lady Gaga had two French bulldogs stolen, with her dog walker actually shot during the robbery in Los Angeles. DogLost, a UK charity […]

Research reveals support for Scottish reforms among legal professionals

19 February 2021

New research published this week shows support from the legal profession in Scotland to reforming elements of the Scottish jury system. The research, from The Open University (OU) and published in the Journal of Medicine, Science and Law brings fresh input into the ongoing debate over reforms to the historic jury system in Scotland. It […]

OU News

Category: Law