I see that an upskirting case scheduled for four days before a district judge has been fixed for December 2027. How on earth has this been allowed to happen?

I have just read the easy-to-read second part of Sir Brian Leveson’s report purporting to set out the remedy. With respect, I found it extremely disappointing. In fact, it reminded me of US labour leader Joe Hill’s parody of the old gospel hymn In the Sweet By and By which included the line: ‘There’ll be pie in the sky when you die.’ For me that seems to sum up the report’s recommendations: at least ‘there’ll be pie in the sky after you retire’.

For those of us with reading difficulties there are helpful illustrations. Little pictures of barristers, judges and magistrates with thumbs up or down make us understand what Sir Brian is thinking and, by extension, what we are meant to think. 

The key word throughout the report is ‘fairness’. But what is fairness? Is it fair to make sure we fill a quota of judges over 6ft tall ? Surely the only criterion for appointing judges is to make sure they are the best available. All other considerations should be superfluous.

Sir Brian writes that he and his committee have spoken with judges, practitioners, police and Uncle Tom Cobley (thumbs up). In reality, half an hour with an experienced solicitor could have told them all they need to know. 

All the recommendations are admirable, but with the possible exception of improvements in AI and the use of bus lanes to get prisoners to court on time, all are long-term solutions.

Repair or build courts, pay lawyers more, more judges and better training (all thumbs up). Better liaison with the police who regard us as their natural enemies, stopping their cases going to court (CPS) and defending people who should not be defended (defence lawyers).

These are not going to happen like the transformation scene in Cinderella. They will take time and long-term finance, and where’s the latter coming from? Spoiler: it isn’t coming (thumbs down).

James Morton is a writer and former criminal defence solicitor

 

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