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TV cameras to be allowed into court of appeal TV cameras to be allowed into court of appeal
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TV cameras will be allowed into the court of appeal for the first time from October and senior judges will be offered training before appearing on camera, the Lord Chief Justice has revealed. TV cameras will be allowed into the court of appeal for the first time from October and senior judges will be offered training before appearing on camera, the lord chief justice has revealed.
But Lord Judge cautioned against extending filming into crown courts – as the government plans – for fear it will provoke disruptions and deter witnesses from giving evidence. Lord Judge cautioned against government plans to extend filming into crown courts, where criminal trials take place before juries, for fear it will provoke disruptions and deter witnesses from giving evidence.
In his last annual appearance before the House of Lords' constitution committee, the most senior judge in England and Wales also warned that cuts in legal aid and a reluctance to employ senior QCs in court cases could end up costing the government more money than it saves.In his last annual appearance before the House of Lords' constitution committee, the most senior judge in England and Wales also warned that cuts in legal aid and a reluctance to employ senior QCs in court cases could end up costing the government more money than it saves.
Lord Judge, 71, who is due to step down in September after five years in office, told peers: "I'm perfectly happy with cameras coming into court, provided their presence doesn't increase the risk that justice won't be done. [But] I'm very troubled about having cameras just swanning around the court. Judge, 71, who is due to step down in September after five years in office, told peers: "I'm perfectly happy with cameras coming into court, provided their presence doesn't increase the risk that justice won't be done. [But] I'm very troubled about having cameras just swanning around the court.
"I think you have got to see how it works in the court of appeal. I am bound to say that in most cases I suspect John and Jane citizen will find it incredibly dull."I think you have got to see how it works in the court of appeal. I am bound to say that in most cases I suspect John and Jane citizen will find it incredibly dull.
"I hope I am not being cynical, but I can envisage a time coming – not in any situation that I can contemplate today nor with any political party currently in office – but I can see a political advantage being seen, 'Well, the television companies have been awfully difficult at the moment for the last few months, it might do quite well for us to let them do it'," he added. He added: "I hope I am not being cynical, but I can envisage a time coming – not in any situation that I can contemplate today nor with any political party currently in office – but I can see a political advantage being seen, 'Well, the television companies have been awfully difficult at the moment for the last few months, it might do quite well for us to let them do it.'"
"We will arrange for those judges who sit in these courts to have some training in the fact of the television cameras going to be present and the general idea is that it will start in October in the two courts of appeal." He told the committee: "We will arrange for those judges who sit in these courts to have some training in the fact of the television cameras going to be present and the general idea is that it will start in October in the two courts of appeal."
Ministers have said they intend to extend filming into crown courts to shown judges' sentencing remarks "in due course". Lord Judge, however, emphasised that it should only be done with the agreement of the Lord Chief Justice. Ministers have said they intend to extend filming into crown courts to show judges' sentencing remarks "in due course". Judge said it should only be done with the agreement of the lord chief justice. His counterpart in New Zealand had warned him about incidents where there had been demonstrations from people in court during sentencing, including "cheers and boos".
Lord Judge said that his counterpart in New Zealand had warned him about where there had been incidents where there had been demonstrations from people in court during sentencing, including "cheers and boos". Filming would start in October in the criminal and civil divisions of the appeal court, he said. Extending filming to jury trials might deter witnesses from coming forward. The supreme court in Westminster is the only court that currently has its proceedings routinely televised.
Filming would start in October in the criminal and civil divisions of the appeal court, he said. But extending filming to jury trials might deter witnesses from coming forward. The supreme court in Westminster is the only court that currently has its proceedings routinely televised. On government cuts to legal aid, Lord Judge said he was aware the country was "bust", but warned that more unrepresented litigants would cause problems in the courts. "The problem is going to be mainly in the county courts, and the district judges, who I think will bear the brunt of this, will have a very much more burdensome task and inevitably they will have to have reduced lists."
On government cuts to legal aid, Lord Judge said he was aware the country was "bust", but warned that more unrepresented litigants would cause problems in the courts. Asked if that meant that cutting legal aid would increase costs elsewhere in the court system because more courts and judges would be needed, he replied: "You can say that but I can't possibly agree – but I'm not disagreeing."
"The problem is going to be mainly in the county courts, and the district judges, who I think will bear the brunt of this, will have a very much more burdensome task and inevitably they will have to have reduced lists." He also responded to concerns about proposals by the justice minister, Chris Grayling, to cut back on the use of QCs in murder trials. "Yes, I am concerned about it," he told the committee. "The best counsel will do the case quickly, the best counsel will tell the judge what the points are clearly and therefore a trial which may take 10 days will then take seven, so we save money there." The best QCs would help get cases through court more quickly and save the cost of extra days in court.
Asked if that meant that cutting legal aid would mean increased costs elsewhere in the court system, because more courts and judges would be needed, he replied: "You can say that but I can't possibly agree, but I'm not disagreeing." Lord Judge said it was "daft" that wealthy individuals ended up on legal aid and suggested that applications to freeze assets were self-defeating, because they prevented defendants paying for their legal representation. He suggested the matter could be solved by permitting some of their frozen assets to be released to pay for their defence.
He also responded to concerns about proposals by the justice minister, Chris Grayling, to cut back on the use of QCs in murder trials. "Yes, I am concerned about it," he told the committee. "The best counsel will do the case quickly, the best counsel will tell the judge what the points are clearly and therefore a trial which may take 10 days will then take seven, so we save money there." The best QCs would help get cases through court QCs more quickly and save the cost of extra days in court. Reducing legal aid and criminal court lawyers' fees would also have an adverse affect on efforts to improve diversity within the judiciary. "This is one that causes me great anxiety," he said. "The overwhelming majority of female and ethnic minority barristers spend their time doing family or criminal work. We have to offer them a reasonable career offering them an opportunity to make progress and feel better rewarded.
Lord Judge said it was "daft" that wealthy individuals ended up on legal aid and suggested that applications to freeze assets were self-defeating, because they prevented defendants paying for their legal representation. "What troubles me about the proposals … is that we are going to end up with a reduced number of women and those from ethnic backgrounds coming into the profession."
Rescuing legal aid and criminal court fees would also have an adverse affect on efforts to improve diversity within the judiciary. "This is one that causes me great anxiety," he said. "The overwhelming majority of female and ethnic minority barristers spend their time doing family or criminal work. We have to offer them a reasonable career offering them an opportunity to make progress and feel better rewarded. It could have a serious impact on efforts to improve diversity among judges in 10 or 20 years time, he said.
"What troubles me about the proposals … is that we are going to end up with a reduced number of women and those from ethnic backgrounds coming into the profession." It could have a serious impact on efforts to improve diversity among judges in 10 or 20 years time, he said. The lord chief justice said that he was expecting a government decision on judicial pensions next week.
The Lord Chief Justice said that he was expecting a government decision on judicial pensions next week. He suggested the disputes over wealthy suspects being granted legal aid in criminal cases could be solved by permitting some of their frozen assets to be released to pay for their defence. Justice minister Helen Grant said later: "We believe televising court proceedings will help improve transparency and bring greater public confidence and understanding of the criminal justice system. We want to modernise the system and make the courts accessible to the public, whilst ensuring correct procedures are in place to safeguard all participants."