Friday, Jul. 29, 2011

Lord Justice Levenson

Chairman of the phone-hacking inquiry

As part of the public inquiry into the News of the World scandal, Lord Justice Levenson has the authority to call media editors, proprietors and politicians to give evidence under oath. The terms of reference call on him to examine the "culture, practices and ethics of the press," including their relationship with police and the contacts between national newspapers and politicians. Levenson chairs the Sentencing Council, which draws guidelines for courts, and was the lead prosecutor in the case of Rose West — Britain's most notorious female serial killer.

See why Britain's strict libel laws actually encourage tabloid antics.