Chief justice treads careful path

Burnett promises to ‘slip away quietly’ but plans to speak out later

“I will slip away quietly at the end of September knowing that the judiciary is in good hands,” Lord Burnett of Maldon told his fellow judges last night. His last task was to “wish Lady Justice Carr well when she takes office in October”.

That was the only reference he made to his successor, who can expect a peerage on appointment and is likely to be kno…