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To retain public confidence judges cannot stand ‘aloof’ from society, warned the Lord Chief Justice, as he called for a ‘measured expansion of livestreaming and broadcasting’ of proceedings.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association annual conference in Australia, Lord Justice Burnett urged judges to engage more with the public and media. He said: ‘The judiciary invites misunderstanding or incomprehension if it stands completely apart and aloof from society.’
Support for judicial independence is ‘not immutable and cannot be taken for granted’ he said, warning of a ‘gentle erosion’ of support in some countries.
‘We have seen judges referred to as “so-called judges”. We see judges being criticised because their decisions fail to match the popular mood,’ he said, noting the newspaper ‘Enemies of the People’ headlines that followed the Brexit referendum litigation.
‘Judicial independence, like democracy and the rule of law, is dependent on the existence of strong cultural norms. The concepts need to be understood. Society, as a whole, must believe in them and they must be supported by society,’ he said.
In order to secure effective public understanding of the role of the judiciary, Lord Justice Burnett said that judges must be committed to ‘open justice’ with judgments, rulings and sentencing remarks given in open court and greater online publication of judgments and online broadcasting of hearings.
He added: ‘I look forward to a measured expansion of livestreaming and broadcasting of proceedings more widely.’
To retain public confidence judges cannot stand ‘aloof’ from society, warned the Lord Chief Justice, as he called for a ‘measured expansion of livestreaming and broadcasting’ of proceedings.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association annual conference in Australia, Lord Justice Burnett urged judges to engage more with the public and media. He said: ‘The judiciary invites misunderstanding or incomprehension if it stands completely apart and aloof from society.’
Support for judicial independence is ‘not immutable and cannot be taken for granted’ he said, warning of a ‘gentle erosion’ of support in some countries.
‘We have seen judges referred to as “so-called judges”. We see judges being criticised because their decisions fail to match the popular mood,’ he said, noting the newspaper ‘Enemies of the People’ headlines that followed the Brexit referendum litigation.
‘Judicial independence, like democracy and the rule of law, is dependent on the existence of strong cultural norms. The concepts need to be understood. Society, as a whole, must believe in them and they must be supported by society,’ he said.
In order to secure effective public understanding of the role of the judiciary, Lord Justice Burnett said that judges must be committed to ‘open justice’ with judgments, rulings and sentencing remarks given in open court and greater online publication of judgments and online broadcasting of hearings.
He added: ‘I look forward to a measured expansion of livestreaming and broadcasting of proceedings more widely.’
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Born from a grievance, their research project grew into a book and is now challenging the status quo. Emma Price and Emma-Louise Fenelon reveal the key findings – and the critical next steps
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
