By Gabriel Princewill-
The Court system and its judges need to raise their standards and improve the way it deals with the public. Members of the Criminal Bar Association are complaining about the disorganisation of time schedules in the court system that often finds defendants, witnesses, and litigants waiting hours for a case listed much earlier than the time they eventually get heard.
Further complaints about judges abusing their power and making unhelpful and superfluous comments to both defendants and barristers in diverse cases, has led to a a number of barristers meeting to discuss the growing concern of a judicial system that sometimes fails to live up to the high standards it essentially purports to have. A source from The Criminal Bar Association, known for their great networking skills told The Eye Of Media.Com that the courts are ”understaffed” and ”underfunded”.
According to the source, more judges and court personnel are needed to address a failing court system that sees too many cases listed at the same time of the delay, but actually delivered at different times. The inconsistency in the delivery of court cases has left Barristers feeling greatly undermined and unappreciated because of the extra time they spend waiting in courts for cases delivered long after their timed schedule. The disorganised time schedules do not afford barristers and defendants sufficient flexibility to plan their day or manage their time in a manner that is cost effective.
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COMPLAINTS
A female barrister recently complained to a top QC , citing an incidence in which she was needlessly shouted on by a male judge who was lagging behind in time and heading for a 5pm finish for a case listed in the morning.
The judge is quoted as saying ‘You should really think about whether the Bar is right for you’
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‘I don’t think I have ever been shouted at like I was by that Judge…completely unacceptable…he acted like a toddler. I have decided to leave the Bar for the time being, a big part of my decision to go is the life I am leading as a very junior criminal barrister’, the barrister told a QC in an email.
British judges are now being accused of disrespecting the time of barristers, by unapologetically subjecting them o long delays in court. Many barristers and their clients are forced to wait for hours across the Uk, with no apology given when they are finally courted to hear their case. A spokesperson for The Criminal Bar Association told The Eye Of Media.Com that many judges are overworked and underpaid and are not fully to blame for wrong attitudes, which he acknowledged needs to be changed.
He confirmed that not all courts or judges are guilty of this careless and disorganised practise, choosing to lay emphasis on the lack of adequate funds in the judicial system which he said puts it in a ”serious financial crises”. The regularity of anomalies in the system is enough to call for urgent attention since true justice ultimately depends on it.
RHETORIC
Rhetoric and reality has not been on equal footing, leaving avid legal practitioners and campaigners both disconcerted and disillusioned with serious lapses in the workings of the judicial system. The difficult access to legal aid by undefended litigant has been a mooting point in legal circles, though it must be noted that the Ministry Of Justice has recently vowed to address these shortcomings is due course.
Representatives from the Criminal Bar Association do not sound so convinced: ” seeing is believing, all the political soundbites needs to be translated to tangible and implemented action and benefits. Complaints about cut backs to legal aids, inadequate staff recruitment in courts, and more hire of judges are not new. The courts cannot be expected to deliver a fair system if barristers are left frustrated, judges are overburdened, and staff shortages are evident in many courts across the country. Standards will inevitably be compromised to a varied degree unless urgent intervention in sought”.
A spokesperson from the Criminal Bar Association told The Eye Of Media.Com:
”Barristers who are normally paid a flat fee are being left waiting in court for hours because of a funding problem that spreads right across the court system. The MoJ has been under funded for many years and have had their hands tied behind their back by the treasury.
”The treasury needs to inject more money into the judicial system to fund more judges and court staff. The Secretary Of State recently said one of the objectives of the Moj was to honour the rule of law, yet they do not do enough to fund women in the legal system. If the court system, which is the life blood of society is not well funded, it will not represent justice which is essential to see criminals prosecuted and defendants have a fair trial.
”Many barristers with a wealth of experience are not being valued, but are instead getting underpaid. More money needs to be put into the court system to make sure cases are heard on time and that barristers time are respected”.
The spokesperson also said women in the judicial system were not being given a fair chance to further their careers because the The British legal system does not give women enough opportunities to thrive professional in the criminal justice system. Women are said to be feeling marginalised by a legal system that sees them pushed towards particular areas of legal work like sex offence work, even though they may specialise in other areas.
Complaints of sexism and gender bias is becoming a major concern that must be met with necessary and proportionate action to safeguard the integrity of the legal profession.
”women need to be better represented in the legal profession, and this can only be done my not only injecting enough cash into the system, but by also ensuring at least equal representation of men and women in positions where they are highly skilled. A lot of promises have been made, but not enough in the way of action. The steady cuts of the last few years are not a positive sign than the government are prepared to address this issue. The treasury need to act fast”.
SCARCITY
The legal profession is the last place any type of gender bias should be found, yet there appears to be a scarcity of women in areas of law that are well paid and require bright legal minds. There is no shortage of female talent in the legal profession, but they must be allowed to flourish in those areas they are strongest at.
Organisations like the Western Circuit Women’s Forum survey and Women In Criminal Law, are working hard to address the inequalities in the judicial system affecting women. They have been meeting regularly with the Judiciary at all levels,bringing together barristers and solicitors who holds regular mentoring, networking and social events.
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