Trading secrets

How typical of a judge that he blames solicitors for not being up to speed on pilot projects within the Court Service (see [2002] Gazette, 25 April, 16).

This is like solicitors blaming the public for not knowing what their firm is doing.

Has it occurred to the judge that it might be helpful for the Court Service properly to publish details of its massively expensive projects instead of relying on solicitors to read their minds ? The first sensible step would be for the Court Service to circulate the e-mail addresses of all its personnel.

When I asked my local court for this information, I was told in no uncertain terms that the administrators would not allow this, as the service would not be able to cope with the increased volume of communications and shortened timescales for response implicit in e-mail communication.

Perhaps the Court Service could get its own house in order first, before blaming solicitors for being unaware of secrets like pilot schemes.

The judiciary and the administrators would do well to be less secretive with their e-mail addresses, so solicitors could approach them more easily to find out what is happening.

Gerry Ferguson, Withy King, Bath