Today’s landmark judgment in O’Connor v Bar Standards Board, heralds a victory for a practising barrister, Ms Portia O’Connor. Ms O’Connor is claiming damages against the Bar Standards Board (the BSB) alleging discrimination against her on grounds of race, contrary to Articles 6 and 14 of the ECHR and section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998, in bringing disciplinary proceedings which ended in her acquittal on appeal in August 2012 before the Visitors Panel.
The respondent successfully argued before a Deputy Master in March 2014, the High Court in December 2014 and a 3 panel Court of Appeal presided by the former Master of the Rolls Lord Dyson, that the claim for damages, lodged in February 2013, was out of time.
