Knowing
I sometimes am available at short notice, once or twice a month I
receive a call from our justices` liaison office requesting
additional sittings and as a high sitter perhaps I experience more of
the variations in court experience which others might not.
The
morning had two trials scheduled one of which required the services
of an interpreter. After the usual expected delays we began about
10.20a.m. and it soon became obvious that there would be no time for
the second matter. One glance at the case management form showed
that no additional time had been allowed for the interpreter`s
services. As far as we were informed all other courts were similarly
overloaded and the other matter was adjourned to another date. So
all those involved in a personal as opposed to professional capacity
i.e. witnesses and defendants leave the building with less than a
high opinion of our day to day judicial system. The professionals,
police and lawyers, have no time for dismay; they are inured to the
situation and in addition are committed to other duties in the afternoon. Our afternoon displayed the other side of the coin. The
case management form was being completed by the legal advisor during
the first appearance of an East European defendant. He seemed fairly
comfortable in English but did enquire of the odd word or two. The
L/A immediately voiced her concern and noted that an interpreter
would be required. When this was queried by the bench she responded
by saying that she did not want a cracked trial owing to a defendant
being unable to conduct himself satisfactorily on the day. We asked
brief questions of the defendant re time in England, education level,
occupation etc and repeated our opinion that we considered his
language skills were perfectly adequate for him to conduct his
defence. Our L/A was having none of it and an interpreter was
ordered. “I`m not having cracked trials on my record,” or words
to that effect was her reply.
Another
day, another sitting.
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