FOREIGN CITIZENS ON THE BENCH

Last Friday [the post beneath this one] I posted on the content of the Cambridge Times where it was reported that the local Appointments Committee was seeking to double the number of magistrates in its area by seeking 200 new appointees.  Today the local print media rival the Cambridge News has a report based on the same story except this time the number sought was not mentioned. Whether this was by accident or design of course I do not know. Perhaps my post had been read by a member of that Committee who didn`t enjoy the content.  In any event  there is quoted a member of the Cambridge Bench and presumably also a member of the Appointments Committee describing the type of applicant they were looking for. "We are particularly keen to broaden the diversity of the Bench to reflect our community by encouraging applications from young people, those from Eastern Europe, those from Black and Asian Minority ethnic groups and those with disabilities."  Now diversity and disability by themselves should not be criteria for appointment as per positive discrimination but encouragement for such individuals is to be lauded.  What I find unpalatable is the direct appeal to the East Europeans who have arrived in East Anglia in large numbers.  Whilst many recent immigrants there and elsewhere  aim to make this country their permanent home and become citizens, citizenship is not a requirement to sit on the bench.  Recently a pre requisite of a US President to be born in that country has been the subject of some scrutiny.  If an individual, however capable, is, for any reason   unwilling or unable to become a citizen of this country where s/he will sit in judgement on its inhabitants it is my humble opinion that such a person should not be offered that privilege.