Trouble is
brewing among lawyers in Liverpool over
bizarre proposals to have Sunday sittings in some courts dealing with criminal
cases. Solicitors are angry and worried and have every right to be.
This
follows the trend that began in the wake of last years’ riots. The government is
keen to be seen to acting decisively in relation to criminal justice and these
ideas always go down well in the media. But they are both unnecessary and
unfair.
They are unnecessary
because the courts in Liverpool are not overrun
with work. Responding to a huge influx of arrests in the wake of unprecedented
riots is one thing. But the day to day work of the courts is something
completely different. Over the last few years the government has closed courts
in smaller towns to save money – meaning that defendants have to travel miles
to attend hearings.
If there is
no demand for local justice, then why the sudden enthusiasm for Sunday justice?
Similar plans
have failed miserably elsewhere –
Now most
people have little sympathy for lawyers but those who do criminal defence work,
on legal aid, deserve all the support they can get. They already work long and
anti-social hours. They can be called out to a police station in the middle of
the night, spend most of the night with a client and then represent the same
person at court in the morning. All of this is done at the lowest hourly rates
of all. To add insult to injury it appears that prosecuting lawyers will be
paid overtime for appearing on a Sunday and/or given time off in lieu. But
there will no extra payment for the defence lawyers. Most operate small
practices on a shoestring and cannot afford themselves the luxury of time off.
These plans
are nothing short of a disgrace. They will not advance criminal justice and the
main thinking behind them is to enable politicians to score popularity points
with some areas of the press. The quicker they are abandoned the better.
Having worked for 8 years as a defense lawyer and spending a chunk of my life in police stations I am encouraged and uplifted with the much needed and sensitive approach of this article. I whole heartedly agree with your comments. IT IS A DISGRACE!!! I will pass this on to my still long suffering colleagues within the real world of criminal law.
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ReplyDeleteSolicitors in Liverpool
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