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"It's a mess." Spot on, John Hyde. The Mitchell saga is merely one single mess in a very long, long line of ill-considered changes from the late 1990s onwards, each of which ended up as a mess - and for which no-one has yet taken any responsibility whatsoever. (QC MPs and judge reformers take note !) Viewing events from outside the UK, the English common law system, far from being the Rolls Royce it likes to style itself, appears to be transfixed in some sort of frantic but never-ending "reform" process which only deepens the ongoing mess even further. The word 'desperation' springs to mind. Outside the UK, we in other common law jurisdictions are looking on in disbelief at the never-ending chopping or changing that hasn't achieved anything of lasting value at all during the past 15 years - in fact, quite the opposite. Will there ever be an end to it or is something worthwhile to be gained by these incessant reforms ? For example, the idea of using DBAs (a totally incompatible concept imported from the US along with many other half-baked ideas) indicates just how out of touch with reality the reformers have become. Meanwhile, the English legal system has reached the point of farce or tragedy, take your pick. LCJ Thomas's latest proposal for introducing an inquisitorial style for judges is the latest example of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Unless the reform process is halted fairly soon, the UK is in danger of ending up with a justice system fit for a banana republic. QC MP and judge reformers take note !