CCR Press Notice 01/2000 - 24 January 2000
VIEWS SOUGHT ON THE CRIMINAL COURTS
Lord Justice (Robin) Auld has started his year-long review of the criminal courts with a widely circulated request for anyone who has experience of the courts, or views about them, to share their views with him. Where possible he would like to have their views by the end of March 2000.
Sir Robin is seeking assistance in writing from individuals and organisations who have dealing with the criminal courts.
He is particularly keen to establish whether people feel that the existing court system meets their needs and those of today's society, or whether there is room for improvement or change.
He is currently writing to a large number of individuals and organisations seeking their views, as well as placing advertisements in newspapers throughout England and Wales and legal magazines. He has also set up a website (www.criminal-courts-review.org.uk).
The Criminal Courts' Review includes, but is not limited to, the following matters:
the structure and organisation of, and distribution of work between, courts;
their composition, including the use of juries and of lay and stipendiary magistrates;
case management, procedure and evidence (including the use of information technology);
service to and treatment of all those who use or have to attend courts or who are the subject of their proceedings;
liaison between the courts and agencies involved in the criminal justice system;
management and funding of the system.
Written submissions may be addressed to Lord Justice Auld by:
mail to: The Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL;
fax: 0171-936 6804; or
e-mail:
[email protected]
Notes to Editors
Reporters requiring further information regarding this press notice should ring Mike Wicksteed, tel: 0171-210 8514.
The Secretary to the Review is Michael Kron CBE, to whom any enquiries for advice on making submissions to Lord Justice Auld should be made: tel: 0171-210 8749; fax 0171-210 8845; or e-mail
([email protected]).
On 14 December 1999 the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, appointed Lord Justice Auld, a senior judge of the Court of Appeal, to report on the working of the criminal courts by the end of 2000. His terms of reference are as follows:
"A review into the practices and procedures of, and the rules of evidence applied by, the criminal courts at every level, with a view to ensuring that they deliver justice fairly, by streamlining all their processes, increasing their efficiency and strengthening the effectiveness of their relationships with others across the whole of the criminal justice system, and having regard to the interests of all parties including victims and witnesses, thereby promoting public confidence in the rule of law".
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