Scotland’s Lord President, Lord Hamilton launches Scottish judges website. THE JUDICIARY OF SCOTLAND now have their own dedicated website, launched today amid much fanfare to coincide with the Lord President’s address to the court at the start of the new legal year, followed by the ‘Kirking of the Judges’ ceremony at St Giles Cathedral, which was today boycotted by Sheriffs because they wanted to walk in front of Advocates instead of behind them, as is the traditional ‘pecking order’.
The Lord President, Lord Hamilton said : “I am very pleased to announce the launch today of our new judicial website - a first for judges in Scotland. I hope that you find it both helpful and informative. It is our intention to publish as much information as we can, as quickly as we can. I believe it is vital in a democracy that justice is not only seen to be done, but that it operates in an open and transparent way and contributes to public understanding and awareness of what takes place in courts each day across Scotland.”
The Judiciary of Scotland – Its your justice system, your courts, paid for by you, so familiarise yourself with the principles of your access to justice in Scotland. According to the Judicial Office, the new website aims to bring judges closer to the public and increase awareness and understanding of the work they do. Elizabeth Cutting Head of Judicial Communications said: “This is a very exciting development for judges in Scotland which will enable the public to gain a greater insight into the work they do. Visitors will be able to read what a judge says on passing sentence and have access to summaries of important legal decisions. The website will be continually developed and expanded so we need and welcome user feedback”.
The website will provide a wide range of information about the work of over 700 Senators, Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace in Scotland. It will also publish Sentencing Statements as soon as sentence has been passed and summaries of important court decisions, Summaries of Court Opinions & information on Fatal Accident Inquiries .
Visitors to the site will be able to follow updates on Twitter and sign up for RSS feeds on Sentencing Statements, Summaries of Opinions, Fatal Accident Inquiries, News, & Media Releases to ensure that new items are delivered straight to their desktop.
The website features a section providing advice on going to court (please everyone, if you are going to court or are already there, read this when you get time), the importance of judicial independence and a feature on how to address a judge. You can also read about ‘a day in the life of a judge’ which provides an insight into a typical working day, information on Principles of Judicial Ethics, Attending Court, Inside a Court Room, the all important Court Room Etiquette and of course not forgetting the Complaints section, which users should remember to fill in once they have notified members of the media, including myself, on what might need complaining about …
The website has been developed by the communications section of the Judicial Office for Scotland and there is a section for visitors to get in touch, ask questions or comment on the site.
Actually, all in all, its quite a good website so well done to the Judicial Office for coming up with what might be a good interface between the Courts system and the public. I’d give it several Michelins, but alas … I prefer Bridgestones … and in any case, I’ve been involved in justice websites for years, giving, I hope, a voice to those who have for far too long had none …
So, this only leaves attending to all the recommendations of the Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Gill’s CIVIL COURTS REVIEW, ensuring an equally speedy implementation of all the reforms our “Victorian” Civil Justice system requires to ensure all Scots have access to justice, unobstructed by those elements of the legal profession who still consider the courts their own business domain, rather than a justice system which should always be open to all.
23 comments:
While this is welcome in sofaras it helps to demystify our Victorian Justice System, what is urgently needed is a radical change of the culture behind it.
The Lord President could begin by considering the offensive and absurd position which allows a single person to alone decide who is appointed to the Judiciary, while simultaneously being the sole person responsible for the regulation and disciplining of his/her appointees.
Now really, do come along.......
Oh I can hardly wait to follow a judge on twitter.Are you sure they know what it is ????
"and of course not forgetting the Complaints section, which users should remember to fill in once they have notified members of the media, including myself, on what might need complaining about"
LOL !
What I want to know is was Douglas Mill in attendance and did he pay for his own lunch this time ?
End Self Regulation Lord Hamilton
Is it my imagination or Hamilton quoting you ?
Did you convert the unconvertible ?
Lord Hamilton is still in charge of all complaints regardless of their shiny new website
As the saying goes the leopard cant change his spots
they can change their website change their gowns and argue among themselves who walks before the other but they will never change the stain of corruption of a justice system which wrongfully convicted Megrahi and they know it each one
Too little too late
The Scottish justice system can never be trusted if it will not put right all the injustice it caused
Great to see on the new judiciary website that Lord Hamilton subscribes to the belief that "it is vital in a democracy that justice is not only seen to be done, but that it operates in an open and transparent way and contributes to public understanding and awareness of what takes place in courts each day across Scotland". This, of course, is why he, Supreme Court Judge Lady Smith, and the President of the Scottish Employment Tribunals have been so open and transparent about the fact that a known alcoholic - Mr Mark Sischy - was allowed to sit and make judgments as a Chairman of the Employment Tribunals.
http://www.judiciaryreport.com/corrupt_judges.htm
Justice is supposed to be blind. Judges aren't supposed to be when it comes to justice. This site provides a stunning, candid look at the judiciary and why you may not get your day in court. When one thinks of court, one thinks of justice. The famous picture of the lady with the blindfold covering one eye - but that blind fold is starting to look more like an eye patch on a pirate, as many Americans and foreigners as well are being robbed of their day in court.
And to the ones who do actually get their day in court, their rights are being stepped on by judges willfully violating their oath of office. Justice is not being served in an astonishing number of cases, with verdicts leaving the public scratching their heads - and not because of dandruff.
It couldnt happen in Scotland right ?
http://www.jail4judges.org/
The Judicial Accountability Initiative Law, J.A.I.L., is a single-issue national grassroots organization designed to end the rampant and pervasive judicial corruption in the legal system of the United States. J.A.I.L. recognizes this can be achieved only through making the Judicial Branch of government answerable and accountable to an entity other than itself. At this time it isn't, resulting in the judiciary's arbitrary abuse of the doctrine of judicial immunity, leaving the People without recourse when their inherent rights are violated by judges.
"Break neck speed judicial reforms" - so only 300 years to go until the civil court review implemented ?
Interesting points from your reader in the States.
Despite all evidence to the contrarty people in Scotland still go to Court expecting, or at least hoping for, justice. What they get is Law - a very different thing.
Anonymous said...
they can change their website change their gowns and argue among themselves who walks before the other but they will never change the stain of corruption of a justice system which wrongfully convicted Megrahi and they know it each one
21 September 2010 23:43
WELL SAID !!
Well done Peter - it looks like your persistence is paying off!
The Judiciary are obviously worried by the truth being revealed by websites such as yours, keep up the good work.
Marvellous performance from Vince Cable today on the telly about bankers.Someone should tell him to have a go at lawyers too - its just another raking in the money business ripping the same people off after all
Good point about the Civil Courts Review.Its about time more of Lord Gill's recommendations were put into practice.If not he should be standing up to make a few waves of his own.
Keep up the good work !
"The Judiciary of Scotland – Its your justice system, your courts, paid for by you, so familiarise yourself with the principles of your access to justice in Scotland."
SPOT ON PETER !!!
While welcoming the new judicial website I would ask the Courts to remember that deeds speak louder than words.
Let's see some meaningful reforms to the travesty which is the Scottish Justice system, beginning with the end of all self regulation by the Law Society of Scotland et al.
Hi Peter, my family and I had a good laugh at the Michelin joke and so, I would imagine did all your other readers, but I'm sure all the Lords in Scotland wont have the inteligence to work out that a Bridgestone is a tyre and not a huge boulder. BY THE WAY LORD PRESIDENT THE PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND "DO" KNOW WHAT A MACKENZIE FRIEND IS!!!!
Scotland’s Lord President, Lord Hamilton launches Scottish judges website.
Good photograph of you Arthur, I wonder how many people reported you throughout your career.
And it will be Judicial Corruption,
Mark 2.
Closed Courts that conduct its
criminality behind closed doors, nothing will change, new Websites, new Lord Advocates, New Judges and
Sheriffs, just like the new SLCC complaints system that was introduced years ago, nothing ever changes, because these perpetrating fraud and Criminality, breaking the Law, Crooked Solicitors, Crooked Law Society of Scotland, Corrupt Faculty, Corrupt Lord Advocate, we have to go to these Crooks to investigate the corruption they are doing and perpetrating on the people of Scotland, and these Crooks change the Law and say they are making things more transparent in Scotland's Corrupt Legal System, all they are doing is consolidating the fraud and criminality against us, which Crook or Criminal will make himself more transparent and accountable to his victims. All just new laws and legislation to protect all these Legal Crooks.
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