Law and Rights
Justices of the Peace - The Ministry of Justice has announced a consultation about proposed changes to the system for appointing Justices of the Peace. Serving as a J.P. is a very important way in which the layman can contribute to the administration of justice. The Lord Chief Justice has recently said - "The largest part of the judiciary is formed by the magistracy. The 29,000 or so Justices of the Peace who sit in magistrates? courts deal with more than 95 per cent of all criminal cases, as well as a significant proportion of family cases. The administration of justice in England and Wales would collapse without the contribution made by men and women volunteering to serve their local communities. I believe society owes them a huge debt and I am not sure that their value is always appreciated" - Lord Chief Justice's Review of the Administration of Justice in the Courts.
The Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity has published a report containing 53 recommendations aimed at improving diversity within the professional judiciary. See Ministry of Justice News Release and the Panel Report.
For a view on this report see "Mr Justice Elephant in the Room" at CharonQC's blog.
I have long thought that the advent of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom would start a process which will end up with some form of "Confirmation Hearings" before someone can be appointed as a Justice. The excellent Supreme Court blog carries an item on this very issue.
- The Magistrates' Courts
The legal system of England and Wales is quite unique with regard to the extensive lay involvement in the administration of justice in the Magistrates' Courts as well as members of the public forming juries in the Crown Court and, occasionally, in...
- Appointments To The Supreme Court Of The Uk
Updated 27th February - link to other blogs and some of the 'tweets' on the appointments system The appointments of three Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom have been announced - Number 10 and see Lord Neuberger's (President...
- Selecting The Senior Judiciary
Updated 27th March: The think-tank Centreforum has issued a report - "Guarding the Guardians: Towards an independent, accountable and diverse senior judiciary" - (PDF, 78 pages - Executive Summary and 7 Chapters). See also Centreforum's...
- A Jewel Beyond Price ... The Magistracy Of England And Wales ... No.2
Rochdale Magistrates Court In December 2010 Law and Lawyers looked at the magistracy of England and Wales which was described by the late Lord Bingham as a "democratic jewel beyond price." 25th January 2011 marked the 650th Anniversary of the Justices...
- Magistrates' Courts
Magistrates' Courts deal with the bulk of criminal cases brought to court in England and Wales. The judiciary in a magistrates' court comprises the Justices of the Peace (JPs or, as they are often referred to these days, "lay magistrates")...
Law and Rights
The Judiciary - more on appointment processes
For a view on this report see "Mr Justice Elephant in the Room" at CharonQC's blog.
I have long thought that the advent of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom would start a process which will end up with some form of "Confirmation Hearings" before someone can be appointed as a Justice. The excellent Supreme Court blog carries an item on this very issue.
- The Magistrates' Courts
The legal system of England and Wales is quite unique with regard to the extensive lay involvement in the administration of justice in the Magistrates' Courts as well as members of the public forming juries in the Crown Court and, occasionally, in...
- Appointments To The Supreme Court Of The Uk
Updated 27th February - link to other blogs and some of the 'tweets' on the appointments system The appointments of three Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom have been announced - Number 10 and see Lord Neuberger's (President...
- Selecting The Senior Judiciary
Updated 27th March: The think-tank Centreforum has issued a report - "Guarding the Guardians: Towards an independent, accountable and diverse senior judiciary" - (PDF, 78 pages - Executive Summary and 7 Chapters). See also Centreforum's...
- A Jewel Beyond Price ... The Magistracy Of England And Wales ... No.2
Rochdale Magistrates Court In December 2010 Law and Lawyers looked at the magistracy of England and Wales which was described by the late Lord Bingham as a "democratic jewel beyond price." 25th January 2011 marked the 650th Anniversary of the Justices...
- Magistrates' Courts
Magistrates' Courts deal with the bulk of criminal cases brought to court in England and Wales. The judiciary in a magistrates' court comprises the Justices of the Peace (JPs or, as they are often referred to these days, "lay magistrates")...