Time For Judges To Be Voted In?

[youngmafbog]

This one here needs to understand he is there to represent the public not himself. Judges opinions, and they are just that, should be kept to themselves.

And this is not about the Eco thing in this story, I am on about all trials.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10714247/Judge-PRAISES-inspiring-Insulate-Britain-mob-M25-stunt-delayed-AMBULANCE.html

[ToraToraTora]

the problem is you'd end up with politicians as judges.

[ladybirder]

Sorry but Biff Whipster, surely that can't be his real name;-)

Oh and yes, I agree with what you say.

[Gromit]

That works so well in the United States, what could go wrong here?

It is bad enough they politicised the Police and Crime Commissioners (they should be scrapped) without repeating the error with the judicary.

[Old_Geezer]

I have some sympathy as I dislike folk in control of parts of society not directly answerable to the public they rule over. But elected judges probably create as many issues as it solves. Maybe the public should have some say in how a law was meant to be interpreted rather that allow legal experts to look for loopholes or inadequate definitions to misinterpret intent ?

[drmorgans]

Judges aren't there to represent the public, they're there to interpret and apply the law. Politicians make the law and they are there to represent us.

[dannyk13]

Unless on a matter of law judges should not voice their opinions in court.

[youngmafbog]

//Judges aren't there to represent the public//

Well no seems they are there to represent themselves.

Of course they represent the public. It is a public office so the population doenst take up pitch forks and do it themselves.

[davebro]

When you see some of the folks elevated to positions of power by electoral systems I doubt whether it would improve the judiciary - and they should be concentrating on the job, not thinking about what they need to do to get re-elected.

[youngmafbog]

//That works so well in the United States, what could go wrong here?
//

Why always bring up the US? For instance dont some Cantons in CHE elect them?

I do get the problems though. Any suggestions on how to improve the current rubbish system we have?

Judges need to be accountable in some way to the public and need to be removable. Perhaps the public could elect a pool that are then selected from?

[youngmafbog]

//and they should be concentrating on the job,//

Yes, so how do you make them do the job and not have twisted interpretations and comments that represent themselves and not the public or Government wish?

And even more importantly - How do we remove them?

[drmorgans]

And the government can intervene through the "undue leniency" procedure.

[THECORBYLOON]

Is there any evidence his personal opinions resulted in lower fines than thought appropriate in the circumstances?

[Spungle]

Judges should judge and keep their politics to themselves.

[Gromit]

I realised that I didn’t know the current process for selecting judges, so I went and found out.

https://www.judiciary.uk/about-the-judiciary/the-judiciary-the-government-and-the-constitution/jud-acc-ind/jud-appts/

It actually is a good system. I don’t know if a Judges’ performance is assessed during there career, but if not they should be. Any found failing could be removed like Ofsted weeds out bad teachers.

[DTCwordfan]

what's the Law society for and to some extent the Inns of Court, Gromit?

I wouldn't go rushing to compare international systems as , in a simplistic sense, Roman law in Switzerland, France, Louisiana etc is very different to our common 'balanced scales of justice' system. In Roman law, it is a panel of judges of lesser 'intellectual capacity or qualification'/experience etc who preside....

[Peter Pedant]

// the problem is you'd end up with politicians as judges.//
.
Trump and the supreme court ( there ) is NOT a leading example
previously I was in favour as I thought it was the way of selecting the best rather than the person of most appeal to The sitting pres

[Peter Pedant]

good ref grom grom thx
instituted as a result of the Human RIghts Act
LC's tap on the shoulder was thought NOT to be fair or just
althoooooo
it had worked well for a few hundred y

Birkinhead who BOUGHT the LC post from Lloyd George for £100k then - wasnt a bad LC
Quinton Hogg - parodied in Rumpole - because hopeless demented but the LCD ( department of the Lord Chancellor silly!) carried on ( judging)

[ynnafymmi]

Why werent these neep-heids at work.....sorry,i forgot,none of these workshy heidbangers has ever worked a whole day of their worthless lives.

[Peter Pedant]

aye - - och

[ynnafymmi]

You got it the wrong way round,Pete.It is"Och aye,the noo,ye ken".