Here is a link to the CharonQC blog which discusses a speech made by Lord Judge (Lord Chief Justice) at the Mansion House on 13th July. Please have a read. It is an extremely interesting and hard-hitting speech from the Head of the Judiciary in England and Wales. He was particularly critical of so-called "Henry VIII" clauses in statutes.
Here is a link to the Lord Chief's speech of 13th July.
Addendum 15th July: It is reported that the Crown Prosecution Service is warning government that 25% cuts in its budget will "deny justice" - see The Guardian 15th July. The Telegraph reports that, in a "worst case scenario" one quarter of the Police Force could be shed with civilian employees bearing the brunt of the cuts - Telegraph 15th July. See also Joshua Rozenberg's "take" on the speech by the Lord Chief Justice.
Obiter J often has his finger on the nation`s legal pulse and the content of Lord Judge`s speech on July 13th was heartening to all who hope that much of the last thirteen years` authoritarianism can be retrieved. However the good Lord`s statement on July 14th predicates a different picture upon which I have commented at length. Trial by judge[s] OR jury is the logical outcome.
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