Latest news with #JusticeLang
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- NZ Herald
St Johns Rd homicide: Not guilty plea entered for 16yo accused of murdering Kyle Whorrall at Auckland bus stop
She also entered a not guilty plea through her lawyer. Justice Lang ordered a four-week trial to commence on August 31 next year. He approved a request by defence lawyer Paul Borich KC for interim name suppression to continue until at least the teen's next court appearance in July. Police say two occupants of the erratically-driven vehicle attacked Whorrall while he was sitting alone at a bus stop in Meadowbank on the night of April 22. Whorrall, 33, was struck with a 'long' weapon, suffering multiple head injuries, and later died in hospital. The teen's adult co-defendant is accused of having 'actively suppressed' evidence by selling a car to help him escape after arrest. Craig Kapitan is an Auckland-based journalist covering courts and justice. He joined the Herald in 2021 and has reported on courts since 2002 in three newsrooms in the US and New Zealand.
Telegraph
20-03-2025
- Telegraph
Christian teacher who said ‘LGBT is a sin' loses court battle
A Christian teacher who told Year 7 pupils that being LGBT was a sin has lost a High Court fight. Glawdys Leger made the comments to her pupils during a religious studies lesson at Bishop Justus CofE School in Bromley, south London, in February 2022. She showed a presentation on human rights and the class had a discussion on 'allyship', which led to Ms Leger saying that being LGBT was 'not fine' and her pupils should put God before such ideology, a professional conduct panel found. The panel also found the 44-year-old said being LGBT was a sin and transgender people were 'just confused'. One of the pupils complained to her mother about the comments and Ms Leger was suspended in March 2022 before being dismissed two months later. In December 2023, the panel found her actions amounted to unprofessional conduct, with the finding then published on the Teaching Regulation Agency's website. Ms Leger was not prohibited from teaching in future. Ms Leger brought legal action at the High Court in London against the Department for Education over the panel's findings. She argued the panel failed to put her comments in context and that the school's duty to provide a broad and balanced curriculum did not apply to her as an individual teacher. She also said the decision to publish the finding was unlawful as it infringed on her privacy. But her case was dismissed by Mrs Justice Lang on Thursday who said Ms Leger's criticisms of the panel's findings 'do not disclose any error of law, as opposed to mere disagreement'. She said in a written judgment: 'The [panel] and the secretary of state made a lawful decision that publication of the findings was a justifiable and proportionate sanction for her unacceptable professional conduct.' 'Very distressing' A previous hearing was told Ms Leger's comments were recorded by an 11-year-old pupil who had been advised by her mother to note down any 'transphobic' remarks. The mother then complained to the school, saying Ms Leger's comments were 'very distressing' for her child as she is 'exploring who she is – as many children are at this age', Mrs Justice Lang said. Ms Leger argued to the High Court that the panel's publication had interfered with her human rights because, although she was not prohibited from working, the publicity of the decision would make it 'difficult, if not impossible, to obtain new employment'. But Mrs Justice Lang said the panel was compelled to publish its finding and 'went no further than it considered justified'. The published decision will become inaccessible after two years, even to employers, she added. 'This was indeed a Christian school, but the claimant's own evidence was that she had been unwilling to support that school's policy,' she said. 'The result was the nuanced finding that while 'Ms Leger's comments lacked respect for the right of others' this did not derive 'from a lack of a tolerance' nor had she any 'intention of causing distress to pupils'. 'That said, her 'actions were at risk of upsetting pupils in the lesson' and her 'choice not to present a balanced view undermined the school community's aspiration to provide a supportive environment for children who may be exploring sexual identity'.'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Teacher loses court case over LGBT+ 'sin' comments
A Christian teacher who told pupils at a south-east London school that being LGBT+ was a "sin" and that transgender people were "just confused" has lost a High Court challenge over a finding of unprofessional conduct. Glawdys Leger made the comments to her year seven pupils during a presentation in a religious studies lesson at Bishop Justus Church of England School in Bromley, in February 2022. Ms Leger, 44, argued that a professional conduct panel (PCP) had failed to put her comments in context. But a judge has dismissed her case, saying that it was a "justifiable and proportionate sanction for her unacceptable professional conduct". Ms Leger was suspended in March 2022 before being dismissed two months later. During a class discussion on "allyship", Ms Leger said that being LGBT+ was "not fine" and that pupils should put God before LGBTQ ideology, the PCP previously found. The PCP hearing was told that Ms Leger's comments were recorded by an 11-year-old pupil, who had been advised by her mother to note down any "transphobic" remarks. The mother then complained to the school, saying Ms Leger's comments were "very distressing" for her child. In December 2023, the PCP found the teacher's actions amounted to unprofessional conduct, with the result of the case being published on the Teaching Regulation Agency's website, although she was not banned from teaching. In her legal challenge at the High Court against the Department for Education (DfE), Ms Leger argued that the school's duty to provide a broad and balanced curriculum did not apply to her as an individual teacher. In a written judgment, Mrs Justice Lang said: "The PCP and the secretary of state made a lawful decision that publication of the findings was a justifiable and proportionate sanction for her unacceptable professional conduct." Ms Leger had also argued that the decision by the PCP to publish the finding was unlawful as it infringed on her privacy and would make it "difficult, if not impossible, to obtain new employment". But Mrs Justice Lang said the PCP had been compelled to publish its finding and "went no further than it considered justified". She added: "The result was the nuanced finding that while 'Ms Leger's comments lacked respect for the right of others' this did not derive 'from a lack of a tolerance' nor had she any 'intention of causing distress to pupils'. "That said, her 'actions were at risk of upsetting pupils in the lesson' and her 'choice not to present a balanced view undermined the school community's aspiration to provide a supportive environment for children who may be exploring sexual identity'." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to HM Courts and Tribunals Service
BBC News
20-03-2025
- BBC News
Christian teacher loses court case over LGBT+ 'sin' comments
A Christian teacher who told pupils at a south-east London school that being LGBT+ was a "sin" and that transgender people were "just confused" has lost a High Court challenge over a finding of unprofessional Leger made the comments to her year seven pupils during a presentation in a religious studies lesson at Bishop Justus Church of England School in Bromley, in February Leger, 44, argued that a professional conduct panel (PCP) had failed to put her comments in a judge has dismissed her case, saying that it was a "justifiable and proportionate sanction for her unacceptable professional conduct". Comments recorded by pupil Ms Leger was suspended in March 2022 before being dismissed two months later. During a class discussion on "allyship", Ms Leger said that being LGBT+ was "not fine" and that pupils should put God before LGBTQ ideology, the PCP previously found. The PCP hearing was told that Ms Leger's comments were recorded by an 11-year-old pupil, who had been advised by her mother to note down any "transphobic" mother then complained to the school, saying Ms Leger's comments were "very distressing" for her December 2023, the PCP found the teacher's actions amounted to unprofessional conduct, with the result of the case being published on the Teaching Regulation Agency's website, although she was not banned from her legal challenge at the High Court against the Department for Education (DfE), Ms Leger argued that the school's duty to provide a broad and balanced curriculum did not apply to her as an individual teacher. 'Nuanced finding' In a written judgment, Mrs Justice Lang said: "The PCP and the secretary of state made a lawful decision that publication of the findings was a justifiable and proportionate sanction for her unacceptable professional conduct."Ms Leger had also argued that the decision by the PCP to publish the finding was unlawful as it infringed on her privacy and would make it "difficult, if not impossible, to obtain new employment".But Mrs Justice Lang said the PCP had been compelled to publish its finding and "went no further than it considered justified".She added: "The result was the nuanced finding that while 'Ms Leger's comments lacked respect for the right of others' this did not derive 'from a lack of a tolerance' nor had she any 'intention of causing distress to pupils'."That said, her 'actions were at risk of upsetting pupils in the lesson' and her 'choice not to present a balanced view undermined the school community's aspiration to provide a supportive environment for children who may be exploring sexual identity'."
The Independent
20-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Christian teacher who said being LGBT+ is a sin loses High Court challenge
A Christian teacher who told year seven pupils that being LGBT+ is a sin has lost a High Court challenge over a finding of unprofessional conduct. Glawdys Leger made the comments to her pupils during a religious studies lesson at Bishop Justus Church of England School in Bromley, south London, in February 2022. She showed a presentation on human rights and the class had a discussion on 'allyship', which led to Ms Leger saying that being LGBT+ is 'not fine' and that they should put God before the LGBTQ ideology, a professional conduct panel (PCP) found. The PCP also found that the 44-year-old said being LGBT+ is a sin and that transgender people are 'just confused'. One of the pupils complained to her mother about the comments and Ms Leger was suspended in March 2022 before being dismissed two months later. In December 2023, the PCP found her actions amounted to unprofessional conduct, with the finding then published on the Teaching Regulation Agency's website. Ms Leger was not prohibited from teaching in future. Ms Leger brought legal action at the High Court in London against the Department for Education (DfE) over the panel's findings. She argued that the panel failed to put her comments in context and that the school's duty to provide a broad and balanced curriculum did not apply to her as an individual teacher. She also said the decision to publish the finding was unlawful as it infringed on her privacy. But her case was dismissed by Mrs Justice Lang on Thursday who said Ms Leger's criticisms of the PCP's finding 'do not disclose any error of law, as opposed to mere disagreement'. She said in a written judgment: 'The PCP and the secretary of state made a lawful decision that publication of the findings was a justifiable and proportionate sanction for her unacceptable professional conduct.' A previous hearing was told that Ms Leger's comments were recorded by an 11-year-old pupil who had been advised by her mother to note down any 'transphobic' remarks. The mother then complained to the school saying Ms Leger's comments were 'very distressing' for her child as she is 'exploring who she is – as many children are at this age', Mrs Justice Lang said. Ms Leger argued to the High Court that the PCP's publication had interfered with her human rights because, although she was not prohibited from working, the publicity of the decision would make it 'difficult, if not impossible, to obtain new employment'. But Mrs Justice Lang said the PCP was compelled to publish its finding and 'went no further than it considered justified'. The published decision will become inaccessible after two years, even to employers, she added. She also noted that Ms Leger did not ask for the PCP to sit in private at any stage despite having the opportunity to do so and that she 'actively participated' in coverage by the Daily Mail. She said: 'This was indeed a Christian school, but the claimant's own evidence was that she had been unwilling to support that school's policy. 'The result was the nuanced finding that while 'Ms Leger's comments lacked respect for the right of others' this did not derive 'from a lack of a tolerance' nor had she any 'intention of causing distress to pupils'. 'That said, her 'actions were at risk of upsetting pupils in the lesson' and her 'choice not to present a balanced view undermined the school community's aspiration to provide a supportive environment for children who may be exploring sexual identity'.'
