The state has a duty to protect judges’ welfare, a trade union’s judicial branch has told the Gazette - as the judiciary published the sentencing remarks of a judge who has come under fire for sparing three boys a custodial sentence over the rape of two girls.
Judge Nicholas Rowland's decision to give the boys youth rehabilitation orders has attracted public and political anger. Attorney general Lord Hermer (Richard Hermer KC) referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme - a move welcomed by the prime minister. Over 264,000 people have now signed a petition calling for the judge to be investigated and the introduction of a formal judicial accountability framework 'including mandatory sentencing reviews, transparent judicial records and real removal powers that are actually used'.
The sentencing hearing took place on 21 May. Last Thursday, following a request by the BBC, the judiciary published a court transcript for the hearing.
Before publication of the transcript, the Gazette asked the judiciary if it wished to comment on the public reaction and was told that the judiciary cannot comment on live proceedings.
GMB’s Judicial Branch told the Gazette: ‘Judges are and should be fully accountable to the public, but that has to be through clearly delineated processes that preserve their judicial independence. Decisions can be challenged through the appeals process and conduct through the JCIO [Judicial Conduct Investigations Office]. Nobody should take our constitutional protections for granted and whether pressure is applied by populist movements or by politicians the state has a duty to protect judges' welfare.'
