Speaking at the annual Judges’ Lord Mayor’s dinner this evening, Lord Phillips, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, reflected on the overall condition of the judiciary following this year’s constitutional reforms and his visits to courts and tribunal centres up and down the country.
Lord Phillips said:
"I have been highly impressed by the dedication of judges, magistrates and administrators I have met. Judging is not a nine-to-five job and there are increasing administrative burdens. Magistrates make a major contribution to the administration of justice for no financial reward, and are also having to cope with the increased complexity of the law they apply."
He rejected claims that judges are ‘out of touch’ with real life:
"We do not live on run-down estates, but we do travel on buses and tubes (and bicycles), we push trolleys around supermarkets, we have normal family concerns and commitments and neither are judges immune from the impact of crime. And day by day our work gives us an insight into what is happening in all sectors of society, which is shared by very few."
He stressed the value of judges and ministers co-operating to improve the justice system
"Judicial independence requires judges to reach their decisions without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. Our task is to apply the law with objectivity to the best of our ability, and this is something that ministers must understand and respect, and I believe that they do."
On sentencing, Lord Phillips believes that co-operation between judges, justice staff and agencies and Parliament is essential:
"The wide range of sentencing options should be real options so that we are confident that the sentences that we pass are those that are most likely to protect the public from criminal behaviour – not only in the short term but in the longer term."
Lord Phillips also took the opportunity to condemn recent criticism in some sections of the media of judges’ sentencing decisions, which he said have taken the form of personal attacks that have been "intemperate, offensive and unfair".
Notes for Editors
The Lord Chief Justice was speaking at the Lord Mayor’s Dinner for judges, held at the Mansion House in London. A copy of his full speech is available on the judicial website.
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