News about Kevin Bishop

After appeal judges reversed a contentious ban introduced earlier this year, campers descended on the beauty spot last night to perform, dance, and play music. A judge had previously found that a nearly 40-year-old piece of law did not allow people to pitch tents overnight on Dartmoor Commons without the permission of landowners. Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Underhill, and Lord Justice Newey granted the appeal on Monday, finding that the legislation recognizes citizens of the public's right to rest or sleep on the Dartmoor Commons, whether day or night, in a tent or otherwise' as long as byelaws are followed.

Since Devon landowners attempted to discourage people from pitching tents, members of the public can go wild camping in Dartmoor National Park, appeal judges have found. In January, a High Court judge ruled that a nearly 40-year-old piece of legislation did not allow people to pitch tents overnight on Dartmoor Commons without permission from landowners. Alexander and Diana Darwall launched the successful litigation against the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), arguing that some campers cause damage to livestock and the environment. Sir Julian Flaux's decision was overturned by appeals judges earlier this month, who argued that he had the wrong interpretation of a 1985 statute governing rights of access to Dartmoor Commons.

Sen. Lindsey Graham must testify before a special grand jury in Atlanta, looking at whether former President Donald Trump and his allies broke any rules in order to reverse his narrow 2020 general election loss in the state, according to a federal judge on Monday. Graham's lawyers argued that his status as a US senator gave him an exemption from being required to appear before the judge's investigation panel, prompting him to dismiss his subpoena. But U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May wrote in an order on Monday that immunities related to his service as a senator do not prevent him from having to testify.