tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post3807184555012190996..comments2024-03-08T14:35:24.649+00:00Comments on The Justice of the Peace Blog: BARRISTER`S PREJUDICE AGAINST MAGISTRATESThe Justice of the Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05795957459681808206noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post-354840713484372422015-08-29T14:24:51.045+01:002015-08-29T14:24:51.045+01:00Commenters consistently understate by a considerab...Commenters consistently understate by a considerable margin the cost of a DJ, and on an associated matter: When I joined the bench many years ago, a very senior member of what became HMCTS told me that comparisons in costs between the (then lay) magistracy and the (then) stipes always included the ECONOMIC cost of using members of the public, some of whom would otherwise be at work. I wonder if the consultants used by the MOJ still do that??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post-8477938474290683282015-08-28T11:09:59.743+01:002015-08-28T11:09:59.743+01:00Thank you Anonymous 16.19. Firstly the FOI table ...Thank you Anonymous 16.19. Firstly the FOI table refers to either way offences only. To put all in perspective there are about 350,000 either way offences with convictions at magistrates annually. Now perhaps you will appreciate that even when appeals are held at the rate shown they represent a miniscule number of all such cases dealt with by magistrates.The Justice of the Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05795957459681808206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post-40440745715976249162015-08-27T16:19:03.016+01:002015-08-27T16:19:03.016+01:00Er...............no it doesn't. It shows that ...Er...............no it doesn't. It shows that in over half of those cases that were appealed, the Lay Magistracy got it wrong.<br /><br />A failure rate of 50%+ is what it shows. No spin please.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post-64197802847421048842015-08-27T08:55:58.972+01:002015-08-27T08:55:58.972+01:00I have to admit to a reluctant snigger at some of ...I have to admit to a reluctant snigger at some of the prose and invective used by Secret Barrister.I must also, with equal reluctance, admit that at least in part I recognise some truth in what he wrote. As a relatively new JP I have been sometimes embarrassed & sometimes quite alarmed about a colleague or two. Some Chairmen are not effective or indeed competent. <br /><br />On the other hand I do believe that my lack of a professional legal qualification does not place me at a disadvantage in the finding of fact and the application of the correct procedures, principles and administration of the law, aided and abetted as we are by a legal advisor.<br /><br />It is sad that we have (some) lawyers have this skewed view. It is sad that some probation officers, police officers, ushers and other court professionals have this view. Perhaps the days of the magistracy are numbered. Certainly things are going to change. Perhaps they need to, but I do hope that the baby isn't going to be thrown out with the bath water. I don't think all DJs (salary ca £100K) or, for that matter some barristers, are necessarily in touch with the issues of the poor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post-25889843011597682812015-08-26T13:54:53.090+01:002015-08-26T13:54:53.090+01:00Considering the numbers of either way cases retain...Considering the numbers of either way cases retained at magistrates` courts..I have the numbers somewhere from MOJ statistics....the very low actual number of reversals is indicative of the correct findings by JPs. The Justice of the Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05795957459681808206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post-84785834113174311492015-08-25T20:33:25.410+01:002015-08-25T20:33:25.410+01:00For my sins I did have a look at The Secret Barris...For my sins I did have a look at The Secret Barrister and was astounded at the tone and language delivered. Talk about chips on his shoulder... My guess is that, if he has addressed benches of lay magistrates (or any bench for that matter) with that tone, he won't have achieved very much in the way of success. IMHO he doesn't represent many, if any, of my colleagues at the Bar. I can only encourage other JP friends to look at the ramblings of a disalousioned practitioner of that very noble profession.Too old JP.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02851367026495221466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post-30499413508853567682015-08-25T15:29:42.263+01:002015-08-25T15:29:42.263+01:00"The figures for appeals at Crown Court agai..."The figures for appeals at Crown Court against lower courts` decisions are an illustration of how often J.P.s get it right."<br /><br />Unless I'm misunderstanding, the figures you quote show over 50% of appeals being allowed. Doesn't that rather undermine your argument?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com