tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post6726452253057452157..comments2024-03-08T14:35:24.649+00:00Comments on The Justice of the Peace Blog: DO J.P.s HAVE THE CAJONES?The Justice of the Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05795957459681808206noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post-18908805553923516962015-12-07T11:27:37.600+00:002015-12-07T11:27:37.600+00:00It's not, in my humble opinion, a matter of ca...It's not, in my humble opinion, a matter of cajones.<br /><br />Like most justices I was appalled at the injustice of the CCC and nearly let out whoop of joy when the news broke that it would be consigned to the bin from the 24th December. However, distasteful though it will be, we cannot ignore the law as it stands - offences committed prior to the 24th December will attract the charge and the law requires that it is imposed. Justices cannot pick and choose. <br /><br />We have a victory that was won by our collective strength of argument, commitment and integrity. Justices made their views known in rather stark contrast to the professional judiciary who largely kept their mutterings and complaints private. We should not now sully the principled position that we adopted by, in effect, breaking the law. We are required to apply the charge for offences committed prior to the 24th so that is what we must do; we cannot strike it out early. We can at least take comfort from the fact that we overturned this iniquitous and disreputable charge and that, going forward, we no longer have to impose it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post-47551637975853607202015-12-07T10:43:09.231+00:002015-12-07T10:43:09.231+00:00We have been asked to 'avoid putting the legal...We have been asked to 'avoid putting the legal advisers in a difficult position'...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1294928770519722820.post-18306453382425641732015-12-05T14:23:44.290+00:002015-12-05T14:23:44.290+00:00This is a question that I have been keen to ask of...This is a question that I have been keen to ask of a magistrate. How do you feel about the practice that has become common across the UK, of Councils hiring a court room for a day or afternoon, in order to deal with thousands of council tax liabilities? Surely this is illegal and unlawful.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02059641931163590769noreply@blogger.com