Where to start? I suppose by remarking that I find Robert Zara’s -certainly- “radical” , if tentative, proposal seductive. So very many of us, notably Joshua for one, have been going on-and on!- along strikingly similar lines to these esteemed former Judges for DECADES. As a very senior figure long ago demanded to know:”If not now, then when?”. Andrea Comber and the Howard League are to be commended, as are Mischon de Reya for their sponsorship. And how right and important it is to include the significant point that, lamentably, this has for so long ceased to be a drive towards ever longer incarceration on the part merely of Conservative or coalition governments.
As to the -frankly dangerous- underfunding of legally aided advocacy and practitioner services, as Pauli Murray had it :”Hope is a song from a [decidedly!!!] weary throat.” And again the finger needs in all stark fairness to pointed at all governments of whichever complexion also these several decades. Again,”If not now……?”
Would it be too radical to suggest that the time has come to abolish the Sentencing Council? It has established a framework for most offences dealt with by the courts and there are mechanisms in place to deal with unduly lenient or excessively long sentences. It would enable a number of judges and senior lawyers to spend more time in court, thereby making a small contribution to reducing the backlog, and the staff could be redeployed to other roles within HMCTS.
Thank you!
Is one of these pictures of Lord Leveson?
No
Where to start? I suppose by remarking that I find Robert Zara’s -certainly- “radical” , if tentative, proposal seductive. So very many of us, notably Joshua for one, have been going on-and on!- along strikingly similar lines to these esteemed former Judges for DECADES. As a very senior figure long ago demanded to know:”If not now, then when?”. Andrea Comber and the Howard League are to be commended, as are Mischon de Reya for their sponsorship. And how right and important it is to include the significant point that, lamentably, this has for so long ceased to be a drive towards ever longer incarceration on the part merely of Conservative or coalition governments.
As to the -frankly dangerous- underfunding of legally aided advocacy and practitioner services, as Pauli Murray had it :”Hope is a song from a [decidedly!!!] weary throat.” And again the finger needs in all stark fairness to pointed at all governments of whichever complexion also these several decades. Again,”If not now……?”
Would it be too radical to suggest that the time has come to abolish the Sentencing Council? It has established a framework for most offences dealt with by the courts and there are mechanisms in place to deal with unduly lenient or excessively long sentences. It would enable a number of judges and senior lawyers to spend more time in court, thereby making a small contribution to reducing the backlog, and the staff could be redeployed to other roles within HMCTS.