Allison Bailey v Stonewall - Employment Tribunal hearing Thread 4

[ickky]

The Tribunal started 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.

When joining the live tribunal

On the first page underneath where you put your screen name, select the video and mic that are not crossed out (top option), this is the courts vid and mic.
On the next page select NONE on the drop down windows for vid and mic, these are your own video and mic.

You must be muted so as to not disturb the hearing.

There is also live tweeting from

twitter.com/tribunaltweets

Abbreviations:
AB: Allison Bailey, claimant
BC: Ben Cooper QC, barrister for AB
SW = Stonewall Equality Limited (respondent 1)
IO = Ijeoma Omambala QC, barrister for SW
RW = Robin White assisting IO
GC = Garden Court Chambers Limited (respondent 2) (GCC would be a better abbreviation)
AH = Andrew Hochhauser QC, barrister for GC
JR = Jane Russell assisting AH
RM= Rajiv Menon QC & SH = Stephanie Harrison QC (jointly respondent 3 along with all members of GC except AB)
EJ = Employment Judge Goodman hearing the case
Panel = any one of the three panel members (EJ and two lay members)

Witness Statement of Allison Bailey: allisonbailey.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Witness-Statement-of-Allison-Bailey.pdf

Kirrin Medcalf's complaint to GCC: allisonbailey.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/PH-Bundle-pp-331-2-Stonewall-Complaint.pdf

Thread 1 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4529887-Allison-Bailey-v-Stonewall-Employment-Tribunal-hearing?

Thread 2 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4542466-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-2

Thread 3 www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4545725-allison-bailey-v-stonewall-employment-tribunal-hearing-thread-3?

Yeah, I realise that it’s X exam; and I obviously can’t tell the manner of either of them. I’m glad you don’t think it’s successful; shall keep my fingers crossed!

It's AH the feedback is coming from, he moved his mic closer as BC couldn't hear him, so when AB speaks it comes out of his speaker and picks up on AH's mic.

The manner of AH is patronising and a bit rude. I guess that's just his style.
AB is standing up to his questions pretty well I would say. I suppose I'm pretty biased though.

Yes it only started once his mic was turned on.
Also he's the only one without an echo.

We got chucked out but what is happening now with observers? I can't get back in.

Try again, there are a lot of people already and more connecting.

I've got back in. Keep trying.

I got straight back in and so did many others. Try again x

The echo seems to be under control now (ish)

Allison is standing up incredibly well. However in the sexist society in which we live I do wonder if she played the victim more rather than coming out all guns blazing she would come across better to some people. It's the old if you're a rape victim dress conservatively in court trope. This isn't a criticism of Allison, it's a criticism of how strong women are still perceived in society.

Also it's a racist trope that assertive black women are coded as aggressive.

For the record I think she is justifiably angry and merely being assertive and intelligent.

I feel, as a untrained observer, that AH is coming across as rude and patronising and Allison is batting everything back at him with bells on.

This isn't a criticism of Allison, it's a criticism of how strong women are still perceived in society.

Especially so for strong black women who have the added bonus of racism. It's despicable.

It's depressing isn't it. She's bloody marvellous.

I suspect AH in real life has a lot of admiration and respect for Allison for how she's standing up to him.

I think he's been impressed with her all along. I hope she makes QC after this. I'm sure he'd give her a reference!

It's beyond depressing but all feeds into the TRA/GI ideology of how women should be as instructed by men of course.

Oh Lord.

Why has the site started doing weird things with quotes and cutting bits off?

Can anyone connect on their phone? I was able to do it during Maya's tribunal, but i just get a blank screen when i do it now.

I'm finding this hard to listen to. Rehashing the way Allison has been treated by GCC (described as her 'family' and 'friends' not just fellow workers) - sounds painful. It seems worse than it did on the flat page.

Added to that, AH's present questioning seems intended to distress rather than just to discuss evidence or unfold truths.

I think it is Allison who deserves to have a support dog- cuddly cat- cushioning solicitor - duvet assistant.

This line of argument by AH is that if somehow an angry enough twitter mob can be whipped up, then an employee needs to be punished. He probably understands what he's arguing for here.

Same. I think some PPs less au fait with the courts / chambers systems have assumed - not entirely unreasonably - that “junior” in the title “junior counsel” = assistant, inexperienced. In fact it simply signifies a barrister who is not (yet) a QC, and as only roughly 10% of barristers are QCs, that encompasses an awful lot of very experienced, very competent advocates.

(And before anyone leaps on my unfamiliar username, I’m an old, old hand in FWR; I was a Spartacus back in the day, and more recently I’ve tended to reference icebergs. This is a recent NC in homage to a genuinely funny parking thread.)

A joke between AB and AH about the wisdom of AH not having a twitter account.

Oh Lord. Why has the site started doing weird things with quotes and cutting bits off?

Are you on the iOS app Jules? I reported the quote issue on Site stuff this morning.

I'm beginning to wonder who is questioning whom.