Friday, April 26, 2013

What is there to hide ? : A Register of Judicial Interests will bring much needed transparency & accountability to Scots Judiciary too used to life behind closed doors

Top judge Lord Gill has so far refused to answer questions on judicial secret interests. AS reported by Diary of Injustice earlier this week, MSPs from the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee have  once again invited Scotland’s top judge, the Lord President Lord Brian Gill to attend Holyrood to explain his ‘robust’ opposition to a proposal put forward in Petition PE1458 which calls for a Register of Judicial Interests for all members of Scotland's judiciary.

This second invitation from the Scottish Parliament to Scotland’s most senior judge comes after the Lord President Lord Gill earlier refused to attend the Petitions Committee to discuss issues raised in Petition PE1458, reported here : Scotland’s top judge Lord Gill refuses to attend Scottish Parliament to face questions over opposition to register of judicial interests

Petition PE1458: Register of Interests for members of Scotland's judiciary which was debated again at the Public Petitions Committee on Tuesday 16 April 2013, calls for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to create a Register of Pecuniary Interests of Judges Bill (as is currently being considered in New Zealand's Parliament) or to amend present legislation to require all members of the Judiciary in Scotland to submit their interests & hospitality received to a publicly available Register of Interests.

The full Official Report of last week’s Petitions Committee meeting where Petition PE1458 was discussed, has now been published, available online HERE, and is reprinted below, along with a link to video footage of the PPC meeting for readers convenience.

All previous reports from Diary of Injustice and further information on the drive to create a register of interests for Scotland’s judiciary can be viewed here : A Register of Interests for Scotland's Judiciary

Petition 1458 Register of Interests for Scotland's Judiciary Scottish Parliament 16 April 2013 (click image below to watch video footage of Petitions Committee debate)

Judiciary (Register of Interests) (PE1458)

The Convener David Stewart MSP:  The eighth current petition is PE1458, by Peter Cherbi, on a register of interests for members of Scotland’s judiciary. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions. Members will be aware that there has been a lot of press coverage of the issue and that Lord Gill, the Lord President, declined the invitation to appear before the committee. As members will know, under the Scotland Act 1998 we have no power to cite judges to appear before us.

We received a courteous letter from Lord Gill, but it is important for us to get key figures in the judiciary to help us with the petition. I suggest that we send a courteous letter back, re-inviting Lord Gill and asking him how many judges have been recused and whether there is more detailed evidence on the effectiveness of the current system.

We should also seek the views of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland and the judicial complaints reviewer. If members think that it is important to have people in front of us, we could ask representatives of those latter two bodies to attend.

I know that several members have fairly strong views on the issue.

Chic Brodie MSP:  We have seen the answer from the Lord President. No one has said that the Scotland Act 1998 is perfect and, in this instance, it is not. We are all equal before the law, even those who dispense it. We should send a courteous letter, but it should be robust, on the basis that the Lord President has written to us but his letter does not necessarily answer all our questions. What is there to hide?

I am sure that we all want openness and transparency in our Parliament, which is the sovereign Parliament of the Scottish people. As a member of that constituency, the Lord President, like anyone else, should at least pay obeisance to a request by the committee on behalf of the Parliament for him to attend. I sincerely hope that he reconsiders his position and attends at the earliest opportunity.

Jackson Carlaw MSP :  We cannot compel the Lord President to give evidence, but I would say that he has already set aside that provision by choosing to contribute evidence in writing. We are seeking to explore that evidence with him further, now orally, which I think is entirely reasonable.

I would put an accent on Chic Brodie’s point, because the unintended consequence of the Lord President’s not coming is to gather support for the petition in the committee in the absence of our being able to establish for ourselves the necessity for progressing with its proposals. That is unfortunate. Therefore, we should say as politely as possible that, although the Lord President with his great erudition and extraordinary intellectual capacity might not be able to anticipate what further advice he could give us that we would find of interest or helpful, that is nonetheless something that we might be able to determine.

The Convener David Stewart MSP : To recap, we will write to Lord Gill and ask him to attend. We will ask him how many judges have been recused and whether there is more detailed evidence on the effectiveness of the current system. We will also seek the views of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland and the judicial complaints reviewer.

Do members agree to that course of action? Members indicated agreement.

103 comments:

Anonymous said...

If Lord Gill does decide to go along after refusing the first invitation,do you think he will answer any questions on why he refused and why he keeps repeating that lame EU report written by judges who say they dont need a register of interests?

As far as I can see Lord Gill's tactics on this has totally ruined any reputation the Scots judiciary had left after Lockerbie et all

Now we all know better and not to trust judges.

Anonymous said...

Are the Judicial Appointments Board going to be stupid enough to stand up for Gill and argue against a reg of interests?

If they do it doesn't say much for their remit or their motives does it!

Anonymous said...

South Africa can manage to have some kind of register of judges interests so why not Scotland ?

Lord Gill was in South Africa last week although I'll wager he will forget to tell MSPs what goes on there.

Read more here

http://www.pmg.org.za/comment-code-and-regulations-judges-registrable-interests

Section 13 of the Judicial Service Commission Act, 1994 (Act No 9 of 1994) provides that:

The Minister, acting in consultation with the Chief Justice, must appoint a senior official in the Office of the Chief Justice as the Registrar of Judges' Registrable Interests.
The Registrar must open and keep a register, called the Register of Judges' Registrable Interests, and must-

record in the Register particulars of Judges' registrable interests;
amend any entries in the Register when necessary; and
perform the other duties in connection with the Register as required in terms of this Act.

Every judge must disclose to the Registrar, in the prescribed form, particulars of all his or her registrable interests and those of his or her immediate family members.
The Minister, acting in consultation with the Chief Justice, must make regulations regarding the content and management of the Register.
The regulations may determine different criteria for judges in active service and judges who had been discharged from active service or judges in an acting capacity.

Anonymous said...

http://www.change.org/en-GB

Hi Peter and the DOI Team another site to spread the word about your wonderful petition on the Register of interests, I will sign it with pleasure. All the best.

Anonymous said...

Gill is so Victorian he does not believe in a register of interests.

So it follows the judiciary are just as unfit for society as he claimed the civil justice system is.

What a larff this judge has been having on all of us these years.

Anonymous said...

This question about how many judges are recusing themselves must have Mr Gill stumped and we all know why dont we.

Anonymous said...

Does this scandal not highlight that the most important aspect of jurisprudence for Judges is for them to be able to PROVE to the members of the Scottish Public that they are:

1) Honest?

2) Transparent?

3) Responsible for their actions?

4) Properly qualified to act?

5) Properly trained on an ongoing basis?

6) Courteous to all court users?

7) Good time keepers?

8) Efficient?

9) They always act within the law?

10) They recuse themselves when it is appropriate for them to do so?

11) They always act in the interests of the Scottish Public and not for partial interests?
=================================
Very good points and yes you are absolutely correct, but we see again the secrecy these actors have is their greatest weapon of domination against not just the Scottish people. Their secret network is worldwide. The naked truth is that we are called for jury service when those with the Legal Qualification are exempt from scrutiny by their secrecy. A benefits cheat Judge on the bench, god knows what other corruption they are up to. There is no place in a democratic country for secrecy, except during war but no Judge can use security as an issue to keep their activities hidden. Judge Tugendhat said "even if all of the posts are true it amounts to harassment of lawyers". So Solicitors from Hell was closed because they cannot tolerate freedom of expression when people are truthful. Why, because they say so, you are wrong Tugendhat.

Anonymous said...

The expenses scandal manifested itself when a disc was handed to the press who published it. They are all still on the fiddle, I believe and again it was the result of secrecy. Lord Gill has no democratic legitimacy, he is not elected, cannot be removed and quite rightly is now being challenged by the DOI and the Sunday Mail.

Power devoid of scrutiny corrupts. Everything about lawyers is embedded in secrecy, and it cannot continue. And it is their secrecy that allows them to be crooked and profit from crime, no more. I won't get justice for my case, same as Peter but we all must spread the word and destroy trust because the evidence is there, lawyer hate DOI because they team are telling the awful truth how clients are ruined for the Judiciaries bank balance augmentation, not more.

Anonymous said...

We are all equal before the law (in Scotland)?

Are you having a giraffe?

Anonymous said...

The members of the Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee are definitely winning this game of moral tennis?

Anonymous said...

Crikey!A solicitor supports your petition and in the interests of justice too!!Well why not!!

Anonymous said...

Yes exactly - what is there to hide?All these judges keep saying if we (the rest of us) have nothing to hide we have nothing to fear and what happens when someone asks a question about their secrets? They hide! therefore easy to see they have something to fear!

Anonymous said...

Judges should be required to show up at Parliament just as much as they require everyone else to show up in their little closed order empire we call "our courts" which are actually "their courts" by the looks of it.

Anonymous said...

Where will the judge be travelling to next in order to avoid appearing at Holyrood?

Anonymous said...

There is something very sinister about judges who refuse to answer questions to parliament while these same judges criticise parliament and strike out laws voted on by people we elect.

Anonymous said...

After the abusive comments by a Judge the other day about experts in their field, calling them quacks, the experts said that this outburst turned Scotland's Judiciary back 100 years?

My God.......

Our Judicial System is already stuck in the MIDDLE-AGES?

If this calamity goes on any longer maybe Jesus WILL make a comeback after all OR we might find that our judiciary get eaten by the Dinosaurs?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Are the Judicial Appointments Board going to be stupid enough to stand up for Gill and argue against a reg of interests?

If they do it doesn't say much for their remit or their motives does it!


26 April 2013 13:20
:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;

If they are not part of the solution then they definitely part of the problem?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
South Africa can manage to have some kind of register of judges interests so why not Scotland ?

Lord Gill was in South Africa last week although I'll wager he will forget to tell MSPs what goes on there.

Read more here

http://www.pmg.org.za/comment-code-and-regulations-judges-registrable-interests

Section 13 of the Judicial Service Commission Act, 1994 (Act No 9 of 1994) provides that:

The Minister, acting in consultation with the Chief Justice, must appoint a senior official in the Office of the Chief Justice as the Registrar of Judges' Registrable Interests.
The Registrar must open and keep a register, called the Register of Judges' Registrable Interests, and must-

record in the Register particulars of Judges' registrable interests;
amend any entries in the Register when necessary; and
perform the other duties in connection with the Register as required in terms of this Act.

Every judge must disclose to the Registrar, in the prescribed form, particulars of all his or her registrable interests and those of his or her immediate family members.
The Minister, acting in consultation with the Chief Justice, must make regulations regarding the content and management of the Register.
The regulations may determine different criteria for judges in active service and judges who had been discharged from active service or judges in an acting capacity.

26 April 2013 13:32
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, I wish Scotland was run by the African National Congress?

Anonymous said...

'Benefits cheat receives Proceeds of Crime confiscation order for £12,500
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, Norman Ollason was ordered to pay back £12,592.58 in money he made from benefit fraud.'

This was the news item on the Crook Office's website today?

So, did the jinky judge who robbed the Public Purse of benefits money when they committed fraud, pay it back or is this money still oweing?

Or, do the proceeds of crime confiscation orders not apply to Scottish Judges?


That's right, we are forbidden from knowing as this is kept a secret by the Crook Office and by the Judges themselves?

Why?

Because if we were to find out what was really going on, we would have to fire scores of people and............Yes, you have guessed it, this would not be in the Public Interest to find this out because it would lead to total mayhem and disorder?


This sounds more and more like a Hollywood movie script?

Anonymous said...

Who Judges the Judges?

Answer?

They prove to the public by things like maintaining a register of their interests, by the efficacy of their public pronouncements and behaviour in the courtroom, together with the quality, reasonability and soundness of their decision making, so that the public know that they have characters above reproach and that they are accordingly fit to be a judge?

How does Scotland compare to this?

Anonymous said...

Here's a great idea?

We all agree that a Scottish judge has to have a character above reproach right?

They are not allowed to lie or commit offences, right?

So, we ask them to take a Polygraph Test every year?

If they fail it & fail a repeat they are sacked?

If they pass then they continue to judge and pick up the big fat salary?

Anonymous said...

Scots Judiciary too used to life behind closed doors. Oh yes they are and it shows in their hostility to anyone who wants transparency. It is really a new reformation where they will have to cave in to external pressure. People are catching on all is not as they would have us believe.

Anonymous said...

http://petercherbi.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/8-million-of-your-money-spent-on-bully_27.html

Have a read at this about how the Scottish Legal Profession treat people, you will think twice before trusting a lawyer. Radical evil.

Lawyers and doctors will starve you said...

http://petercherbi.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/solicitors-regulator-blamed-for-failure.html

Read this, all insured by RSA, no conflict of interest, get real. Man tortured. Do not get injured at work, where you need medical evidence, doctors pay into the same insurer as your employer. Never believe a lawyer who tells you you can win damages. He will not tell you he is insured by the same insurer as your employer.

They will take the legal aid money cover up your injuries and then cut off your money supply, it is horrendous and it happened to my sister too. Please do not trust these people for your own health and well being.

Anonymous said...

To mislead or falsely persuade clients, the mission of The Law Society of Scotland.

The trouble with lying and deceiving is that their efficiency depends entirely upon a clear notion of the truth that the liar and deceiver wishes to hide.

Hannah Arendt

She was right and the liars and deceivers known as the brotherhood of Scottish Lawyers don't want to change their ways, they want to convince us they are decent trustworthy people and that is their biggest lie. Never trust a Scottish Lawyers, unless you want to risk your life being ruined. As the lottery slogan says, next time it could be you.

Anonymous said...

Every judge must disclose to the Registrar, in the prescribed form, particulars of all his or her registrable interests and those of his or her immediate family members.
---------------------------------
What is wrong with this phrase? Every Judge MUST, must means nothing because who will police the register? This profession of slippery Conger eels always look for a way to deceive the public, indeed that is their specialism. The Law Society has a statutory duty to protect clients but lawyers enforce it and the result has been client suicides. Every Judge Must is total B******t.

Anonymous said...

DOI only you and the press who report of these issues I trust. In life things happen to people but we do not all give up. I have been battered to a pulp by the legal profession and my lifetime mission is to warn others, which you do splendidly, keep up the good work.

All the best

A victim of the legal profession who will not risk a second encounter with them.

Anonymous said...

Has Scotland's judiciary made itself totally untouchable and above the law?

Just like the Crown Office and the Law Society of Scotland and their crooked Scottish lawyers?

Anonymous said...

I have a solution, maybe one of these cruise ships or airports could set up teleconferencing facilities over the Internet, so that Lord Gill could afford time to discuss matters with the Scottish Parliaments Petitions Committee?

Simples!



Aleksandr Orlov (The Meerkat)

Anonymous said...

These is nothing honest about the legal profession, a criminal network of self protecting crooks.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Is it any wonder that these people are crooks when they designed their own system? Turkeys are never going to vote for Christmas. They have prisons but they design systems to avoid prison, where robbery of clients assets is legal because the client cannot enforce illegality. The truth is that in the lawyer client relationship there is no legality, no boundaries which control lawyers when they cross the theft line.

If the Police were like civil lawyers, and someone attacked you in the street you then report the attack and the Police beat you up. This is what self regulation is, the Law Society and SLCC attacking the client by not helping them and protecting the lawyer thief who ruined you. Trouble is they keep ruining clients until one day someone says I am not standing for this treatment, good on you Peter Cherbi.

25 April 2013 19:25
())()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Peter Cherbi is a modern day William Wallace?

Standing up against tyranny, evil & corruption against the Scot's People?

Yes indeed but our enemies are the Law Society of Scotland and the secrecy that it uses to destroy Scottish people for profit. I have no doubt they would hang, draw and quarter Peter Cherbi if they could do so. We have enemies at the gates who rob people and then use their Law Society non existent complaints system to cover everything up and pin a medal of the corrupt lawyers chest. This is Law Society justice, stay well clear.

Anonymous said...

What that so-called solicitor said about conflict of interest is utter rubbish and the Law Society rules are written for themselves not us the clients.I had a complaint in about my solicitor who did not tell us he was also representing someone who was trying to harass us into selling our property and guess what?the Law Society found he did nothing wrong and straight away he tried to sue us for fees and the only thing that stopped it was my threat to go to the newspapers and tell all and about his legal aid cases where he drags people off the street to claim anything and gets them legal aid for it.Lawyers do not tell you they have a conflict of interest until you find them out and then they are all against you so you get no justice.And just want to say I support your petition also because I know many lawyers are friendly with these judges and they all go hand in glove with each other.They are probably afraid your register will reveal all this and then we get a better picture of how ridiculous the courts are.Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

27 April 2013 14:13

Yes I am not surprised at what you say. The reality is that their system of self regulation is a conflict of interest in itself. You know some lawyer within the Law Society receives a complaint from a client and the recipient of the complaint is going to ruin the lawyer and get the client compensation. Not on your Nelly as they say, remember all this is done behind a veil of secrecy.

It is a corrupt system and any lawyer who expects us to believe they disclose conflicts of interest must think we clients are dumb. No they are a dangerous profession who torture innocent people to save their colleagues.

To the lawyer who left the message about disclosing conflicts of interest, you fall flat on your face because.

The Law Society paradox, they claim their lawyers have a duty to disclose conflicts of interest and they self regulate. The latter is a conflict of interest.

Anonymous said...

In the lawyers secret complaints world there is no law, no illegality because crimes are assessed by lawyers against lawyers.

Put it this was imagine a trial at Greenock Sheriff Court, the press are barred, a lawyer is charged with embezzlement of client funds and the jury are all members of the Law Society of Scotland. This is the same as self regulation but the Law Society don't have hearings because the lawyer is always innocent. The Law Society is a client destroyer and don't believe anything they say, it is all lies.

Anonymous said...

As far as I can see this is about judges protecting their little family run secrets as in the courts and justice system are run mostly by the same people and their relatives - you'd have to be a complete fool not to know this if you have ever used the justice system before.Seeing it on paper though,in a register of interests will be a real eye opener and will leave no doubt what is going on and has been going on for years.If any msps are reading these comments I hope you make this register of judicial interests into law soon.

Anonymous said...

The Law Society of Scotland is tyranny.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
To mislead or falsely persuade clients, the mission of The Law Society of Scotland.

The trouble with lying and deceiving is that their efficiency depends entirely upon a clear notion of the truth that the liar and deceiver wishes to hide.

Hannah Arendt

She was right and the liars and deceivers known as the brotherhood of Scottish Lawyers don't want to change their ways, they want to convince us they are decent trustworthy people and that is their biggest lie. Never trust a Scottish Lawyers, unless you want to risk your life being ruined. As the lottery slogan says, next time it could be you.

27 April 2013 10:51
.,.,.,.,.,.,. .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,..,.....,

The problem with the Scottish Legal Lottery is the word could and Lottery?

As they have the game all sewn up and because they own the rules and change them as they see fit, there is no luck involved........Once they get their Devil's claws into you, they will continue to suck you of your health and wealth until you lie humiliated and damaged?

Anonymous said...

Institutionalized domination, is the Law Society of Scotland. Thomas Hobbes said when two men wanted the same thing they became, enemies. The same applies to ideology, two ideologies meant two superpowers became enemies on how production and consumption should be arranged, communism or no private property and capitalism with private property, yes The Cold War.

But the Law Society, when one man wants a ruined lawyer sued, he becomes an enemy of all lawyers. And this fact is what makes the Law Society institutionalized domination. No legal representation against the lawyer who ruined you, and no internal complaints system within the Law Society to reimburse and protect you.

This arrangement is not a legal profession. This arrangement is legal dictatorship. It is not fit for purpose. It is tyranny. In fact the sad reality is that all lawyers are enemies of their clients and know they can ruin clients with impunity.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
DOI only you and the press who report of these issues I trust. In life things happen to people but we do not all give up. I have been battered to a pulp by the legal profession and my lifetime mission is to warn others, which you do splendidly, keep up the good work.

All the best

A victim of the legal profession who will not risk a second encounter with them.

27 April 2013 12:59
Dfgdfgdfgdfgdfgfgfgfgfbfbbcbbc

You must remember that you are not alone my friend but one of thousands of good Scots who have been raped by the corrupt Scottish legal system?

If we stand united and support each other and make sure that continued silence is no longer an option, for we must put a stop to these criminals in our midst who act as if they have a right to breathe and we don't?

The DOI journalists are fighting for the People of Scotland and are literally walking the walk........?

Silence no more?

Justice for the future soul of Scotland?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
To mislead or falsely persuade clients, the mission of The Law Society of Scotland.

The trouble with lying and deceiving is that their efficiency depends entirely upon a clear notion of the truth that the liar and deceiver wishes to hide.

Hannah Arendt

She was right and the liars and deceivers known as the brotherhood of Scottish Lawyers don't want to change their ways, they want to convince us they are decent trustworthy people and that is their biggest lie. Never trust a Scottish Lawyers, unless you want to risk your life being ruined. As the lottery slogan says, next time it could be you.

27 April 2013 10:51
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/--/-/-/--/-/--/

Lying has become so commonplace at the Law Society of Scotland that I am sure that they do not even recognise the truth nor understand the concept, such are their twisted minds?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
What that so-called solicitor said about conflict of interest is utter rubbish and the Law Society rules are written for themselves not us the clients.I had a complaint in about my solicitor who did not tell us he was also representing someone who was trying to harass us into selling our property and guess what?the Law Society found he did nothing wrong and straight away he tried to sue us for fees and the only thing that stopped it was my threat to go to the newspapers and tell all and about his legal aid cases where he drags people off the street to claim anything and gets them legal aid for it.Lawyers do not tell you they have a conflict of interest until you find them out and then they are all against you so you get no justice.And just want to say I support your petition also because I know many lawyers are friendly with these judges and they all go hand in glove with each other.They are probably afraid your register will reveal all this and then we get a better picture of how ridiculous the courts are.Keep up the good work!

27 April 2013 14:13
~><~><~><~><~><~><~><

Yet another example of how Scotland has become a prosecution FREE ZONE for crooked Scottish lawyers?

They are client haters?

Anonymous said...

The Law Society write the rules and enforce they rules so they are not worth the paper they are written on. The Law Society is the killer of clients rights.

Anonymous said...

A comment has already been made regarding the relationship betwween judges and some solicitors. I am fortunate that I am less than 40 minutes travel from a selection of court houses and visit on a regular basis, and see this relationship is "cosy" for some, however it allows me to see how pathetically useless some lawyers and QCs are, some are totally unprepared, forgetting the name of their clients who have paid sweetly for the privilage, and the judges and sheriffs who seem to totally ignore breeches of court rules by some and come down like a ton of bricks on others, its like watching a bad village-hall play, I suggest to other followers of DOI to try and sit in on as many court-cases as possible and see what goes on.After one case I was tempted to approach the client and tell him it was glaringly obvious his lawyer was totally useless had not prepared for the case.

Anonymous said...

These vested interests Jackson Carlaw spoke earlier of are certainly doing a good job in keeping this discussion out of the headlines and I am staggered this has not received national coverage across the media given its importance.

Anonymous said...

The Law Society hate Peter's guts because they know he and DOI are telling the horrific awful truth, of the serious devastating consequences of trusting a Scottish Lawyer. They are a bad bad group of people who belong in prison and I would weld the doors to their cells shut.

Don't trust lawyers people, trust us who have dealt with them.

Anonymous said...

Where does Lord Gill's power come from so that he can say no? Why is he so special he thinks he is not answerable to the people of Scotland?

He is not special just a lawman who must appear before Parliament to retain any credibility. What is there to hide Lord Gill?

Anonymous said...

Domination, that is the Law Society of Scotland. How can they claim the protect the public? MacAskill calls it a professional organization but the point is professionals have power to decide who they help and who they do not. Professional liars, crooks and thieves with clients ripped apart if they complain.

I have dealt with pure evil, I have dealt with the Law Society of Scotland, tyranny wrapped up in bureaucracy.

Anonymous said...

Lord Gill is a man of judicial omnipotence who is being asked to cooperate as he is a public servant. As he argued for the Civil Courts overhaul, how can he be held in any form of respect if he wants his own interests as a High Court Judge kept secret. Those who seek darkness are hiding the truth.

Anonymous said...

A victim of the legal profession who will not risk a second encounter with them.

27 April 2013 12:59
Dfgdfgdfgdfgdfgfgfgfgfbfbbcbbc

You must remember that you are not alone my friend but one of thousands of good Scots who have been raped by the corrupt Scottish legal system?

If we stand united and support each other and make sure that continued silence is no longer an option, for we must put a stop to these criminals in our midst who act as if they have a right to breathe and we don't?

The DOI journalists are fighting for the People of Scotland and are literally walking the walk........?

Silence no more?

Justice for the future soul of Scotland?
==================================
I ask all people reading and contributing to this vital valuable blog, tell everyone you know what radical evil we are dealing with, and to the person who left the above comment I know there are many of us, and we will unite and destroy the reputations of these criminals who have devised a perfect system for staying out of jail, as one commenter also said their minds are so warped they would not know the truth if it smacked them in the face. Avoid lawyer trash at all costs.

THERE IS NO COMPLAINTS SYSTEM TO PROTECT YOU, AND NO LAWYER WHO WILL SUE THE LAWYER WHO RUINED YOU. THEY HAVE NO REASONS TO BE HONEST WITH THIS SETUP.

Anonymous said...

Neil has an IQ of 125 and runs his own business. So why won't a secret court let him spend his own money?

Neil Barker received £1.8m compensation after a motorbike crash in 2003

But the Court of Protection says he lacks the capacity to handle his finances

He is one of thousands whose assets are managed by the Court

Hundreds of people have been sent to prison for disobeying its rulings

It was set up to make decisions for those deemed to be unable to do so


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2316261/Neil-IQ-125-runs-business-So-wont-secret-court-let-spend-money.html#ixzz2RnwrzAnh
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
================================
MORE SECRECY, SINISTER.

Anonymous said...

Lying has become so commonplace at the Law Society of Scotland that I am sure that they do not even recognise the truth nor understand the concept, such are their twisted minds?
=================================
Yes indeed twisted warped minds are a product of self regulation where their reality is twisted any way they can other than acknowledge they are twisted criminals operating is secrecy against the people of this country. You are right my friend, spot on.

Anonymous said...

ANOTHER LAW SOCIETY SECRET AND SINISTER.


A secret court is controlling £2billion of assets of thousands of elderly and mentally impaired people and paying them a paltry rate of interest.

The controversial actions of the Court of Protection were criticised by an MP last night as ‘bordering on malpractice’.

The interest rate – currently much less than they would receive in an ordinary bank account – means that the value of the financial estates are falling rapidly because the rate of inflation is 2.8 per cent.

An investigation by the Daily Mail has uncovered a litany of other complaints about the court, which came under fire last week after it emerged it had jailed a woman for defying its orders over the fate of her elderly father in a care home.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2316248/Secret-court-control-2billion-fortune-It-holds-assets-16-000-vulnerable-people--pays-paltry-interest.html#ixzz2RoX9jhI8
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
A comment has already been made regarding the relationship betwween judges and some solicitors. I am fortunate that I am less than 40 minutes travel from a selection of court houses and visit on a regular basis, and see this relationship is "cosy" for some, however it allows me to see how pathetically useless some lawyers and QCs are, some are totally unprepared, forgetting the name of their clients who have paid sweetly for the privilage, and the judges and sheriffs who seem to totally ignore breeches of court rules by some and come down like a ton of bricks on others, its like watching a bad village-hall play, I suggest to other followers of DOI to try and sit in on as many court-cases as possible and see what goes on.After one case I was tempted to approach the client and tell him it was glaringly obvious his lawyer was totally useless had not prepared for the case.

28 April 2013 11:38
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I too have observed this?

Some are competent but many are of a remarkably poor standard, which I put down to the lax Law Society Of Scotland standards, where there is an environment that is encouraged where Scottish lawyers are happy to strive for a minimum standard because there is no incentive to do otherwise?

On a recent case, the witness was being cross-examined whilst the Crown Prosecuters was sending txt messages on his mobile phone under the desk and even missed his cue but the judge just ignored this behaviour?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Where does Lord Gill's power come from so that he can say no? Why is he so special he thinks he is not answerable to the people of Scotland?

He is not special just a lawman who must appear before Parliament to retain any credibility. What is there to hide Lord Gill?

28 April 2013 16:12
ppppppppppppppppppppp

You can demand respect and get nowhere?

But if you command respect you will get things done through others?

Anonymous said...

Dfgdfgdfgdfgdfgfgfgfgfbfbbcbbc

You must remember that you are not alone my friend but one of thousands of good Scots who have been raped by the corrupt Scottish legal system?
================================
Yes my friend and a lot more of us worldwide, victims of this evil global network. Thy even believe their own propaganda about Master Policy compensation and disclosing conflicts of interests to clients. Unfortunately for them we know the reality. As I have said before I would not accept legal representation now for free. Their evil is coming back on them in collective loss of public trust in lawyers.

All the best.

Anonymous said...

One rule for us and a different rule for you lot?

Anonymous said...

Why not just sack all the judges and save Billions of money for Scottish society by replacing them with a simple drawing of staw's to see who wins?

This would be fairer and cheaper than the existing cabal?

Anonymous said...

If water was to represent crooked lawyers in Scotland, would we:-

A) Be in a puddle?

B) Be in a bath full?

C) Be in a swimming pool's worth?

D) Be in a lake full?

E) Be overtaken by a veritable devastating Tsunami?

Anonymous said...

Maybe Lord Gill will bring back a gift of an ostrich from South Africa for the Public Petitions Committee?

On his return, he could send round a court lackey with a letter declining their invitation for him to attend and he would also give them the bird?

Anonymous said...

Have the Law Society abandoned the useless Persuer's Panel since you exposed is as useless DOI? Talked to one of them myself once, right pompous twit who detested me on the phone. he was not interested in persuing my crooked lawyer. The Persuers Panel is not available of the Law Society web site.

Anonymous said...

After one case I was tempted to approach the client and tell him it was glaringly obvious his lawyer was totally useless had not prepared for the case...............Yes they don't care because they get paid win or lose. I was involved in a litigation case once, and that experience taught me never to deal with lawyers again.

Anonymous said...

I do not see why a Register of Judges Interests is being resisted?

If the Scottish Judges were committed to the Rule-Of-Law, transparency and honesty, then surely they would be wholehearted in their support of this Petition for the good of the Scottish Public?

It looks like they are more concerned with their own partial interests than the interest of the Scottish Public?

If this is so, are any of the Judges fit to practise as a Judge in Scotland?

If there judgement is under scrutiny on a simple matter like this, can their judgement be relied upon in a court case being heard by them?

Anonymous said...

What a fascinating blog!
You have chosen your subjkect well Mr Cherbi and your idea about the judges interests is supreme.Good luck and I hope it makes a few people think what these courts are really all about.

Anonymous said...

http://www.examiner.com/article/pennsylvania-judge-sentenced-to-28-years-prison-for-selling-teens-to-prisons

Disgraced Pennsylvania judge Mark Ciavarella Jr has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for conspiring with private prisons to sentence juvenile offenders to maximum sentences for bribes and kickbacks which totaled millions of dollars. He was also ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution.

In the private prison industry the more time an inmate spends in a facility, the more of a profit is reaped from the state. Ciavearella was a figurehead in a conspiracy in the state of Pennsylvania which saw thousands of young men and women unjustly punished and penalized in the name of corporate profit.

According to allgov.com Ciavearella's cases from 2003 - 2008 were reviewed by a special investigative panel and later by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and it was found that upwards of 5,000 young men and women were denied their constitutional rights, and therefore all of their convictions were dismissed and were summarily released. During his sentencing Ciavarella was defiant, claiming he had broken no laws and claimed the money he received was a legitimate 'finders fee.' Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Zubrod said comments such as these were typical of Ciavarella, according to the local reporting of citizens voice.com.

He said: I think that's his way of doing things. Never retreat. Always go on the attack. Always blame somebody else. Always get them to back off. He tried it with the judge. It didn't work.
==================================
Always blame somebody else. yes the most dishonest profession on the planet.

Anonymous said...

'The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted'.

James Madison

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
A comment has already been made regarding the relationship betwween judges and some solicitors. I am fortunate that I am less than 40 minutes travel from a selection of court houses and visit on a regular basis, and see this relationship is "cosy" for some, however it allows me to see how pathetically useless some lawyers and QCs are, some are totally unprepared, forgetting the name of their clients who have paid sweetly for the privilage, and the judges and sheriffs who seem to totally ignore breeches of court rules by some and come down like a ton of bricks on others, its like watching a bad village-hall play, I suggest to other followers of DOI to try and sit in on as many court-cases as possible and see what goes on.After one case I was tempted to approach the client and tell him it was glaringly obvious his lawyer was totally useless had not prepared for the case.

28 April 2013 11:38
-----------------------------

This is the consequence of working in a professional climate where there is zero consequences for poor or bad conduct because the Law Society of Scotland have been allowed to become all powerful by a succession of weak and fearful Scottish polititions?

Even Margaret MacDonald watches her P's and Q's where the Law Society of Scotland and their unlawful conduct is concerned?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Neil has an IQ of 125 and runs his own business. So why won't a secret court let him spend his own money?

Neil Barker received £1.8m compensation after a motorbike crash in 2003

But the Court of Protection says he lacks the capacity to handle his finances

He is one of thousands whose assets are managed by the Court

Hundreds of people have been sent to prison for disobeying its rulings

It was set up to make decisions for those deemed to be unable to do so


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2316261/Neil-IQ-125-runs-business-So-wont-secret-court-let-spend-money.html#ixzz2RnwrzAnh
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
================================
MORE SECRECY, SINISTER.

29 April 2013 00:44
//////////////////////////////////////////

NO!

It was set-up, like the Office of The Public Guardian ruse, as an extra revenue stream for lawyers?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Have the Law Society abandoned the useless Persuer's Panel since you exposed is as useless DOI? Talked to one of them myself once, right pompous twit who detested me on the phone. he was not interested in persuing my crooked lawyer. The Persuers Panel is not available of the Law Society web site.

29 April 2013 21:33
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(£

Probably due to fear that Trading Standards may fine them for advertising something to the Scottish Public that was nothing other than a fraud?

Anonymous said...

This is such a brilliant Public Service website that does a fantastic job of exposing the extensive unabated corruption within the Scottish legal jurisdiction.

Well done DOI, you are a credit to yourselves and to the country.

Anonymous said...

This Public Petitions Committee is a welcome breath of fresh air in Scotland's Parliament.....?

If only other Parliamentary Committee's, like the Justice Committee, would take notice of this new business-like way of working efficiently and in the Public Interest, then maybe our justice system would be less crooked, dishonest and dysfunctional?

Well done guys, The People of Scotland stand with you?

Anonymous said...

Why don't the public petitions committee ask Kenny MacCar-crash-road-Kill to appear before him to explain the Lord President's lack of cooperation with the Government over transparency, honesty & freedom of information?

While he is there he may also like to explain why similarly the Law Society of Scotland & the SSDT are exempt from FOI, despite them carrying out a statutory role, which is allowing them to continue to break the law and cause untold damage to the client victims of crooked Scottish lawyers?

Anonymous said...

Surely, if the Register of Interests model is the most widely accepted format for ensuring transparency for the Scottish Public that this should be put in place fully and as a matter of urgency?

It seems to me that the vast majority of the Scottish People have assumed that our judiciary were employing best practice regarding this but in actual fact it looks as though the Scottish judiciary have been happy to remain silent about this and happy for their Interests to be kept hidden from the Scottish Public?

Anonymous said...

Evil, this word sums up the Law Society and it's equally ruthless network. They go on the offensive against clients they ruin by acting in concert to block the client from the legal system, then they go on the defensive and have not even the guts to face Parliament. Typical protect each other and try and maintain secrecy. No group this rotten can survive, every day more people become informed of the dangers of trusting them, stay clear as far as is practicable people, don't learn the hard way.

Anonymous said...

In the private prison industry the more time an inmate spends in a facility, the more of a profit is reaped from the state.
=================================
Same as what Lord Gill must have meanj about the time cases take to be resolved in his Civil Courts Review [more legal aid for lawyers eh].

I was out today and one law firm has a board outside on the pavement, advertising their services. I looked down the list and there was conveyancing, litigation, wills all of the usual stuff. What is different is that the board is there, so I hope they are really struggling. I thought in that office they can ruin you and the Edinburgh office will cover it up. I also thought about the RSA insurance network and I know never to trust a lawyer because they are all against their clients and there is no complaints system.

Keep up the good work DOI, it is amazing how the word is spreading.

Anonymous said...

This is further grist to the mill that the Scottish legal system in Scotland is irrevocably broken & corrupt and is a danger to the public?

Anonymous said...

What kind of interests do the Scottish Judges have that they are desperate to keep secret from the Scottish Public?

Anonymous said...

The Law Society of Scotland have done well again to threaten the Scottish Press into preventing them from covering this shocking scandal?

Why does Scotland need legislation to control the Scottish Press, when the Law Society of Scotland are doing such a good job of it unlawfully at the moment?

Anonymous said...

I've got a good idea that may get the Scottish judges to agree to adopting a Register of Interests?

Just pay them £5Million pounds each?

Anonymous said...

Is the delay and breakdown of negotiations between Lord Gill's camp and the Public Petitions Committee to do with perquisites?

i.e. Over night stay at a top hotel the night before and the night after, a chauffeur driven limousine to and from, a Havana cigar, a bottle of the finest Scotch, a massage, a bevy of brilliant lawyers to attend to every word......?

That kind of thing?

Anonymous said...

Maybe the Law Society of Scotland have muzzled Lord Gill so as not to cooperate with the perceived MSP rebels?

Anonymous said...

Lord Gill "the mark of a man is what he does with power". Plato

Anonymous said...

The Scottish Parliament Committee clearly has respect to the Scottish Public?

The Judges seem to be only concerned with themselves and hanging on to self interest?

Anonymous said...

Maybe the Committee should pay Lord Gill a Fee for appearing before them, as he seems to be holding out for?

Anonymous said...

The Scottish Public need this Petition as a base-point towards resurrecting Scotland Judicial System back to some semblance of normality instead of the private members club that it seems to be now?

Remember, the reports of where a group of Scottish judges, whilst socialising at their club, entered into a bet where the Scottish judge who involved themselves in the biggest miscarriage of justice that year would win the £1 bet?

Anonymous said...

Is it logical to trust the word of one man that Scotland's Judges have characters above reproach?

Or

Is it more sensible for Scottish Judges to commit to transparency and to declare all of their interests, so that the Scottish public can see for themselves?

To choose the former, would appear to be voting for the status quo and to keep things secret?

There cannot ever be justice served and seen to be served in such a climate of secrecy?

Anonymous said...

Are Scottish judges above the law like how Scottish lawyers are?

Anonymous said...

If Jackson Carlaw is correct then Lord Gill has already commenced correspondence with the Public Petitions Committee and as such his refusal to continue to assist the committee is effectively choosing to interfere in the Committee from properly carrying out their job, as they see it?

Under these circumstances, it may be that Lord Gill has brought his own title into disrepute by cooperating with a Parliamentary Committee who are only looking out for the best interests of the People of Scotland?

Anonymous said...

Has the Scottish judicial system just been dragged back to the Stone Age?

Anonymous said...

So much for the sovereignty of the Scottish People?

God help us if we ever become independent?

They'll have us all scratching about for a wee baw bee, whilst they are driven by in their horse drawn carriages?

Anonymous said...

How can the person who carried out the Scottish Courts Review flip-flop over transparency?

You cannot be taken seriously if on one hand you wax lyrical about transparency and acting in the Public Interest and then when you are asked to account for your actions then secrecy and the Public Interest goes out of the window?

This is COMEDY GOLD?

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Gill will tell the PPC to Go Fish?

Anonymous said...

Clearly, The Lord President is none to chuffed at being called-in to display his duty to the Scottish Public that he is responsible for his actions?

Are the Public Petitions Committee under the misapprehension that they call the shots over a Scottish Judge?

Watch the ermine fly!

Diary of Injustice said...

Readers wishing to make comments are reminded to keep to the topic of the article, otherwise the comments section may be suspended.

Anonymous said...

about time too and if I were you I wouldn't allow so many comments as it is almost impossible to follow a line of debate.

Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

Gill seems to be taking his time replying to the invitation..another trip planned perhaps?

Anonymous said...

Regardless of arguments re judicial independence the Scottish Parliament should be given powers to compel judges to attend.After all we have seen a spate of cases where Sheriffs and higher have openly criticised legislation from the Scottish Parliament.So be it.If the judges can criticise and accuse parliamentarians of a failure to properly legislate these same members of the judiciary should be called to parliament to explain their criticisms rather than skulking around in short letters which do not answer questions put to them.

Anonymous said...

The Public Petitions Committee seem to be conducting their deliberations in a thoroughly business like fashion and their legal stance seems to be perfectly reasonable in the circumstances?





Cptn Morgan

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Regardless of arguments re judicial independence the Scottish Parliament should be given powers to compel judges to attend.After all we have seen a spate of cases where Sheriffs and higher have openly criticised legislation from the Scottish Parliament.So be it.If the judges can criticise and accuse parliamentarians of a failure to properly legislate these same members of the judiciary should be called to parliament to explain their criticisms rather than skulking around in short letters which do not answer questions put to them.

9 May 2013 11:20
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek

Remember, politicians do not write up any Legislation?

They just know the general concept of the legislation that they want and it is left to the Scottish lawyers at the civil service to prepare the white papers and clauses?

A good example of this is when Law Society engineered 130 changes to the LALP Act over night and the legislation was presented before the Scottish Parliament as a fète a complit, without giving the politicians sufficient time to scrutinise or object to it?

So, not sure it is the Judges fault?

Anonymous said...

Thanks to corruption and incompetence within the Scottish police and Crown Office, people like Gill can do what they like because they know nothing will happen to them. Serious wrongdoing in Scotland by newspapers, banks, council and government officials has been revealed time after time but goes unpunished. So I blame the police and Crown Office.

Anonymous said...

The professions set up their own system of self regulation and they think they are accountable to nobody because they are used to doing what they want. Lord Gill has been trained in this culture of self regulation.

Anonymous said...

'However, the Scottish Government does not consider there is currently any evidence to suggest that the existing safeguards are not effective and does not therefore consider that a register such as that advocated in the Petition is necessary.'

What investigation has been carried out prior to the issuing of this lazy and contrary stock-answer decision?

Anonymous said...

Is the real problem not encapsulated by Lord Gill's predecessors testimony in front of the Parliament's Justice Committee when he was asked by them how he would go about assessing his fellow judges and that his response was incredulously along the lines of that they just had to TRUST him to do it right and that he did so by knowing them as a person and basing his judgement on this...?

In other words, largely there was no effective procedures in place that were followed and that things were done on a piecemeal basis and almost exclusively was a subjective process rather than a scientific process based on good managerial experience?

Anonymous said...

Is there any way of measuring whether or not Scottish Judges & indeed Lord Gill are cooperating with these Rules or are these rules written in order to give the Public the perception that they are but in reality they just continue on the way they have always done, to continue with the status quo in order to keep a closed shop and away from inquisitive eyes?

Are we just to trust their WORD without question, like good little sheep-like-public that we are?