Noising off by judges

More examples of judges in the press for those studying the judiciary or law and order

In recent years judges have taken on a much more high profile role with their comments to the media about the government’s handling of law and order issues.

This week the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, has sounded off again about how the government are trying to look tough on crime with corrosive effects on the administration of justice.

According to the Guardian:

“Lord Phillips, the lord chief justice, criticised the government yesterday over prison overcrowding which he described as a “very serious state of affairs”.

At a briefing to coincide with the publication of his first review of the administration of justice, Phillips, who is president-designate of the new UK supreme court, said the government’s plan for “titan” prisons, designed to house large numbers of inmates, were “largely dictated by economic considerations”.

He said that for the purposes of rehabilitation: “It’s plainly desirable that prisoners should be housed close to their families.” In his review, Phillips spoke of the “politicisation of sentencing”.

“The reaction of government to what they see as media pressure in relation to sentences can produce changes in legislation designed to counter what they see to be public opinion,” said Phillips.”

Consider:
To what extent have judges begun to act as a pressure group?
What impact have judges in influencing the direction of law and order policy with actions like these?