Allison Bailey v Stonewall - Employment Tribunal hearing

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The Tribunal will start on 25th April at 10am. If you would like to view online you need to send a request for access as early as possible.

Send an email to

[email protected]

The subject heading of the email request should read

“MEDIA OR PUBLIC ACCESS REQUEST – Case number 2202172/2020 - Ms A Bailey – 25th April 2022.

Then ask for the pin for the online access.

You will be contacted with instructions on how to observe the hearing.

I have sent a request but haven't had anything back yet. Hopefully nearer the time.

No, I am using the browser (laptop) refresh in it's absence. I just think it's less convenient. I liked the refresh thread button.

Me too. Have to refresh now at top of browser

Genuine question. Why are they still using ‘cis’ with everyone other than AB?

Freedom of speech vs the right to be addressed by your preferred pronouns.

AB objects to cis and prefers to be identified as a women with no qualifiers

However AB requests the right to describe TW as a group as men/male when appropriate in her testimony

People from the opposite side will also want to use their preferred terminology

We may find CIS objectionable and they may find male objectionable but there appears to be an agreed balance in favour of free speech at the moment.

But how will the respondant side know that everyone they call 'cis' actually identifies as 'cis'? Have they asked them all? Got consent?

I'm genuinely curious.

Now, now, Spindle - you're making a mockery of the ideology and showing it up to be the load of old arse it is!

Thanks for explaining it.

It's because of the Equal Treatment Bench Book, see Chapter 12 Trans People:

It is important to respect a person’s gender identity by using appropriate terms of address, names and pronouns. Everyone is entitled to respect for their gender identity, private life and personal dignity.

If males can insist that in court they're referred to as women, then the court are willing to accept that a female is able to insist on not being "cis-ed".

www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Equal-Treatment-Bench-Book-February-2021-1.pdf

I think evidence starts tomorrow. Interested to see who the witnesses are going to be.

Bugger I have some stuff to do tomorrow. Hopefully I can be really quick and get back to the really important task of following this

I've cleared a lot of work over the past few days to be able to observe at least part of this tomorrow.

Hoping to see lots of familiar names. 👋

As far as I know, Allison Bailey is up first giving testimony under oath, being examined by the lawyers representing the Respondents. When that is concluded, it is for Allison's barrister, ben Cooper QC, to cross examine under oath the witnesses offered by the Respondents.

I'm prepped for tomorrow morning and shall be tuning in whenever I can.

‘When that is concluded, it is for Allison's barrister, ben Cooper QC, to cross examine under oath the witnesses offered by the Respondents.’

So we know there’ll be plenty of ‘We’ll come to that in due course’ and ‘Let‘s unpick that’ and ‘That’s not an answer to my question’ and ‘I’ll ask once more and then move on.’

I’m here for that.

There is no "right" to be addressed by your "preferred pronouns" in UK law.

No law can impose compelled speech because this would be contrary to the human right to freedom of expression.

Use of "preferred pronouns" is only a matter of courtesy. It has no legal power.

Are we all ready with our PINs? For Maya's tribunal we were all encouraged to log in by 9.30 so I'm currently waiting for the conference host to join.

Thinking of Allison this morning. I've been required to give evidence in a court case and been on the end of aggressive and insinuating questioning and I know how tough it is. I wish you a clear and quick-thinking head this morning, Allison, and the fluency that can come with adrenalin. You have an army of women standing behind you.

Yep all ready, work done, tea's made, wee has been had.
Good luck today Alison.

Thinking of you Allison.

Good luck, Allison.

Abbreviations:

AB: Allison Bailey, claimant
BC: Ben Cooper QC, barrister for AB
SW: Stonewall Equality Limited (respondent 1)
IO: Ijeoma Omambala, barrister for Stonewall
RW: Robin White, assisting IO
GC: Garden Court Chambers Limited (respondent 2)
RM: Rajiv Menon QC & SH Stephanie Harrison QC (jointly respondent 3 along with all members of Garden Court Chambers except AB)

Respondents 2 &3 are in practice indistinguishable: GC Chambers are respondents both corporately and as the set of individuals that make up the Chambers

AH: Andrew Hochhauser QC, barrister for GC
JR = Jane Russell assisting AH

EJ: Employment Judge Goodman hearing the case
Panel - any one of 3 panel members (EJ and two lay members)

Thanks to Tribunal Tweets for this information.

I also put this in the other Allison thread, but just thought I'd let people know her fundraising has reached 90% - yay!

Poor Allison...💐💐

On no, Allison has been unwell. The stress couldn't have helped.

Hope she feels better soon.

Allison is in hospital so today's hearing will be adjourned by the look of it.

Bad news. Allison collapsed yesterday and was admitted to hospital. She is still there and cannot give evidence today. BC suggesting the case be adjourned till tomorrow.

for you, Allison. The stress must have been overwhelming.