Better to lock up the whole court!
http://www.anorak.co.uk/anorak-i...ork/
178010.html
I believe this is more accuratly described as "nicely judged":
http://pcbloggs.blogspot.com/
Oh for a judge who has the balls to say "If that happens again you WILL discover why they are known as cell phones".
Another empty threat that will never be carried out in a million years. The CJ system in a nutshell.
Thanks to Philip for sending me this:-
http://www.herefordtimes.com/
mos...olf_whistle.php
Tim,
Common sense, and training, is the reason for keeping threats oblique in the early stages. Otherwise, it's the same as with kids - if you threaten it you will either have to do it or look foolish.
Not much of a threat, then...
Don't get too carried away!
Never make any threat that you will be unable to fully carry out.
Old Man
(Human Rights Act and all that.)
There was a very good article in The Magistrate in January by Andrew Mimmack, a Justices Clerk. It makes interesting reading and states the Contempt of Court Act 1981 must be read in conjunction with the practice direction issued by the LCJ. I won't bore everyone by repeating it but the gist was that it is almost impossible to deal with someone for this offence unless he or she admits and apologises. Regarding the Hereford case the person involved was a youth (17) and I am reliably informed that there is no power to commit a youth for contempt either. It seems that we need some clarification in order to preserve the sanctity of our courts.
The power to "commit" is not of course the same as the power to "detain until the rising of the court" which may not be excluded in the case of a Youth.
Essex JP | 02.19.08 - 8:13 pm |
"Sanctity" of the Courts?
Sorry, I just have to smile and wonder where are you from and to what mysterious ends are you working?
Best wishes, anyway.
Old Man
Does anyone know why we lock up such a high percentage of our population? Are we so different from the rest of Europe?
There's a judge in the Court of Appeal who deals with ringing phones by saying "I hold you in contempt, you shall pay a fine of £25 or £50 to a charity of your choice, according to your own assessment of your wealth -- send my clerk a letter with the details and an apology".
No one argues back, unsurprisingly.
Commenting by HaloScan
