Professor Maurice Sunkin
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Email
maurice.sunkin@essex.ac.uk -
Location
5S.5.32, Colchester Campus
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Academic support hours
Academic Support Hours: Tuesday 16.00-17.00
Profile
Biography
Maurice Sunkin KC (Hon) is Professor of Public Law and Socio-Legal Studies in the School of Law; Co Director of the Law School's Constitutional and Administrative Justice Initiative (CAJI); and an Associate Member of Landmark Chambers, London. Maurice served as General Editor of the journal Public Law for ten years until December 2020 and continues to sit on its Advisory Board. He is a member of the ESRC's Peer Review College; the Academic Panel advising on the evaluation of the government's programme of court and tribunal reforms; and the Eastern Region's Advisory Group on Counter Terrorism. He has recently (autumn 2024) retired from membership of the Administrative Justice Council on which he served since it was established in 2018. He has been Legal Adviser to the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution; assisted the Equality and Human Rights Commission; and was a Trustee, and management committee member, of the Public Law Project between 2000-2011. Maurice currently chairs the Civil Justice Council's sub committee on reforming the Judicial Review Pre Action Protocol. Maurice's principal areas of research concern the use and effects of judicial review; the dynamics of public law and human rights litigation; the impact of litigation and judicial decisions on public bodies and the quality of public services; and wider issues of administrative justice. In this context with funding from the Nuffield Foundation he helped establish the UK Administrative Institute (UKAJI). His research with the Law Society of England and Wales informed its response to the government's programme of judicial review reform and the deliberations of the Independent Review of Administrative Law established in August 2020. Maurice also has research interests in big data and human rights and was Principal Investigator, and later Co Director, of the 拢6m ESRC project on Big Data and Human Rights based at 糖心Vlog. His research on this project principally concerned oversight of surveillance. Maurice has also worked on the constitutional status and powers of the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales. Maurice's past university posts include: Director of Research in the School of Law (2007-14); Dean of the School of Law (2006-07); Dean of the Faculty of Law and Management (2006-7); 糖心Vlog Appeals Officer/Ombudsman (2002-04); and Head of the Department of Law (1997-2000). Before coming to 糖心Vlog in 1989 he taught at the then Polytechnic of the South Bank where he was Head of School of Law (1981-3). In 2018 Queen Elizabeth 11 appointed him QC Honoris Causa in recognition of his "major contribution to the law of England and Wales outside of practice in the courts having in particular pioneered an empirical approach to the law and undertaken leading studies of the use, operation and effects of judicial review."
Qualifications
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LLB London University,
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LLM London University,
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PhD 糖心Vlog University,
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Barrister Middle Temple,
Research and professional activities
Research interests
ERSC Peer Review College
Director of the UK Administrative Justice Institute
Administrative Justice, Public Law, Judicial Review, Human Rights, Social Justice
Constitutional and Administrative Justice Initiative
Administrative Justice, Constitutional and Public Law, Social Justice, Judicial Review.
Current research
Research to support consideration of the constitutional powers of the Victims鈥� Commissioner
The Victims鈥� Commissioner wants to develop an evidence base and robust proposals for the powers of the VC. The research considers the necessary constitutional, regulatory, legal and resource requirements for reviewing Code compliance. It aims to identify the powers that should be given to the VC to correct the current 鈥榦versight deficit鈥� and ensure good performance from the new Code. The review will provide an evidence base on how different public bodies are empowered to carry out their scrutiny functions.
Government reform of Judicial Review (JR): helping the Law Society and legal profession anticipate, evaluate and respond
The Government is committed to establish a Commission on the Constitution, Democracy and Rights to propose reforms, including to judicial review (JR) and the Human Rights Act. This timely and necessary research draws on the Law School鈥檚 expertise and its UK Administrative Justice Institute to assist The Law Society of England and Wales by enabling it to prepare for, evaluate, and respond to government reforms of JR.
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Public Law (LW103)
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Final Year Research Project (LW304)
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Postgraduate research methods and professional development (LW987)
Previous supervision
Degree subject: Law
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 4/3/2024
Degree subject: Human Rights
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 23/1/2018
Degree subject: Law
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 4/7/2017
Degree subject: Law
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 5/11/2014
Publications
Journal articles (19)
Cox, P., Lamont, R. and Sunkin, M., (2025). . Public Law. 2025 (Apr), 283-310
Murray, D., Fussey, P., McGregor, L. and Sunkin, M., (2021). . Journal of National Security Law and Policy. 11 (3)
McPherson, S. and Sunkin, M., (2020). . The British Journal of Psychiatry. 216 (4), 231-234
Juss, S. and Sunkin, M., (2017). PREFACE. Landmark Cases in Public Law, vii-x
Nason, S. and Sunkin, M., (2013). . Modern Law Review. 76 (2), 223-253
Platt, L., Sunkin, M. and Calvo, K., (2010). . Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. 20 (Supp 2), i243-i260
Sunkin, M., Platt, L. and Calvo, K., (2010). . Judicial Review. 15 (4), 337-342
Nason, S., Hardy, D. and Sunkin, M., (2010). . Judicial Review. 15 (3), 220-227
Platt, L., Sunkin, M. and Calvo, K., (2010). Judicial Review Litigation as an Incentive to Change in Local Authority Public Services in England and Wales. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. 20 (Supplement 2), i243-i260
Sunkin, M. and Bondy, V., (2009). . Public Law. 2009, 237-259
Bondy, V. and Sunkin, M., (2009). . Judicial Review. 14 (4), 372-379
Sunkin, M. and Bondy, V., (2008). . Public Law. 2008, 647-667
Sunkin, M., Calvo, K., Platt, L. and Landman, T., (2007). . Public Law. Autumn, 545-567
Sunkin, M., (2001). Trends in Judicial Review and the Human Rights Act. Public Money and Management. 21 (3), 9-12
Sunkin, M., (1994). Judicialization of Politics in the United Kingdom. International Political Science Review. 15 (2), 125-133
Bright, S. and Sunkin, M., (1992). Investing in legal education. The Law Teacher. 26 (2), 118-129
BARNUM, DG., SULLIVAN, JL. and SUNKIN, M., (1992). Constitutional and Cultural Underpinnings of Political Freedom in Britain and the United States. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies. 12 (3), 362-379
Sunkin, M., (1987). WHAT IS HAPPENING TO APPLICATIONS FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW?. The Modern Law Review. 50 (4), 432-467
Sunkin, M., (1983). Judicial Review: Rights and Discretion in Public Law. The Modern Law Review. 46 (5), 645-653
Books (9)
Le Sueur, A., Sunkin, M. and Khushal Murkens, JE., (2023). . Oxford University Press. 0192870610. 9780192870612
Sunkin, M., Le Sueur, A. and Murkens, J., (2019). Public Law Text Cases and Materials, 4th edition
Juss, S. and Sunkin, M., (2017). . Hart Publishing. 9781849466035
Le Sueur, A., Sunkin, M. and Murkens, JEK., (2016). . Oxford University Press (OUP). 9780198735380
Bondy, V., Platt, L. and Sunkin, M., (2015). . Public Law Project. 9781898421160
Le Sueur, A., Sunkin, M. and Murkens, J., (2013). . Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-964418-6
Le Sueur, A., Sunkin, M. and Murkens, J., (2010). . Oxford University Press. 0198820283. 9780199284191
Bondy, V. and Sunkin, M., (2009). . Public Law Project
Bridges, L., M茅sz谩ros, G. and Sunkin, M., (1995). Judicial Review in Perspective. Routledge
Book chapters (15)
Sunkin, M., (2023). Exploring the real world: researching the impact of judicial review. In: A Research Agenda for Administrative Law. Editors: Harlow, C., . Edward Elgar Publishing. 21- 21. 1800883757. 9781800883758
Sunkin, M. and Marsons, L., (2022). An Administrative Justice Perspective. In: A Research Agenda for Social Welfare Law, Policy and Practice. Editors: Adler, M., . Edward Elgar Publishing. 79- 79. 1800886330. 9781800886339
Sunkin, M. and Marsons, L., (2022). . In: The Oxford Handbook of Administrative Justice. Editors: Hertogh, M., Kirkham, R., Thomas, R. and Tomlinson, J., . Oxford University Press. 647- 672. 9780190903091
Sunkin, M., (2021). . In: Executive Decision-Making and the Courts Revisiting the Origins of Modern Judicial Review. Editors: Arvind, TT., Kirkham, R., Sithigh, DM. and Stirton, L., . Hart Publishing. 65- 84. 978-1-50993-036-4
Sunkin, M., (2020). . In: The Civil Procedure Rules At 20. Editors: Higgins, A., . Oxford University Press, UK. 183- 204. 0198863187. 9780198863182
(2018). Administrative Law. In: Administrative Law. Editors: Cane, P., . Routledge. 219- 243
Sunkin, M., (2017). . In: Landmark Cases in Public Law. Editors: Juss, S. and Sunkin, M., . Hart Publishing. 9781849466035
Sunkin, M., (2017). Padfield v Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food [1968]: Judges and Parliamentary Democracy. In: Landmark Cases in Public Law. 43- 61
Sunkin, M. and Bondy, V., (2016). . In: Public Law Adjudication in Common Law Systems: Process and Substance. Editors: Bell, J., Elliott, M., Varuhas, JNE. and Murray, P., . Hart Publishing. 327- 351. 9781849469913
Sunkin, M., (2015). . In: The Cambridge Companion to Public Law. Editors: Elliott, M. and Feldman, D., . Cambridge University Press. 236- 255. 9781107655096
Sunkin, M., (2009). . In: English Public Law (Second Edition ). Editors: Feldman, D., . Oxford University Press. 615- 665. 9780199227938
Sunkin, M., (2009). . In: English Public Law (Second Edition ). Editors: Feldman, D., . Oxford University Press. 793- 824. 9780199227938
Sunkin, M., (2008). . In: The New Oxford Companion to Law. Editors: Cane, P. and Conaghan, J., . Oxford University Press. 9780199290543
Sunkin, M., (2008). . In: The New Oxford Companion to Law. Editors: Cane, P. and Conaghan, J., . Oxford University Press. 9780199290543
Sunkin, M., (2004). Conceptual issues in researching the impact of judicial review on government bureaucracies. In: Judicial Review and Bureaucratic Impact. Cambridge University Press. 43- 75. 9780521839181
Reports and Papers (2)
Sunkin, MS., Doyle, M. and Bondy, V., (2018).
Doyle, M., (2018). Relationships, trust and learning to drive: A report on a discussion of young people's participation in SEND dispute resolution Report on a roundtable discussion for the project A Place at the Table
Grants and funding
2021
Government reform of Judicial Review (JR): helping the Law Society and legal profession anticipate, evaluate and respond
糖心Vlog (ESRC IAA)
2020
Study in support of consideration of the constitutional powers of the UK Victims锟� Commissioner
Office of the Victims Commissioner
Study in support of consideration of the constitutional powers of the UK Victims锟� Commissioner
Office of the Victims Commissioner
2017
A place at the table: Children's and young people's participation in resolving disputes about special educational needs - Developing a toolkit for best practice
糖心Vlog
2015
Human Rights and Information Technology in the Era of Big Data
Economic & Social Research Council
2014
UK Administrative Initiative
Nuffield Foundation
2012
EHRC Consultancy
Ehrc (Equality And Human Rights Commission)
2011
The effect and value of judicial review in England and Wales
Nuffield Foundation
2010
Regionalisation of the Administrative Court and Access
The British Academy
Contact
Academic support hours:
Academic Support Hours: Tuesday 16.00-17.00
