High Court victory

The Firm was instructed following an error at an election on the 2nd May 2019. As a result, it transpired that a candidate was elected in error whereas another candidate who should have been elected was not.

The Firm had to act quickly given the deadline to file a Petition within 21 days from the date of the election. The Firm was selected by the Petitioner as a direct result of our Higher Rights of Audience accreditation. We therefore conducted the matter from start to finish without the need to instruct Counsel.

We made the necessary applications on time which involved filing the Petition, the Application to fix the amount of security for costs and for the receipt of the payment. At each stage we were required to serve all 21 Respondents.

In an effort to resolve the matter quickly, an agreed application was made to the County Court for a recount to take place. It was at that Hearing, the true results were revealed by the District Judge. However, the County Court does not have the jurisdiction to rectify the situation. That power is reserved to the High Court.

Mr George attended the Hearing on the 6th September 2019 at the Queens Bench Division of the High Court. Having liaised with both the Solicitor and Counsel for the Returning Officer, he appeared before the Honourable Mr Justice Knowles and the Honourable Mr Justice Superstone. Mr George presented the agreed Special Case pursuant to section 146(3) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 which was approved and included an Order for costs.