Britain's 'top judge' says 'I like to think that I am a liberal' but he shouldn't like to think this at all-.

Question

either other people think that he has made an appropriate sentence or not. Thinking to himself " I'm going to be liberal in some way (even if just be reducing sentences by a few years) is unfair on the victims of crime who come before him- every judge should be following the same guidelines in the same way. They don't out of arrogance about their supposedly privileged view of the world.

Answer 1

Now you neocons propose to do the thinking for learned people in other countries too! You tend to show your ignorance by claiming you can know what someone is THINKING and then cast judgment on it!!! GOD WILL GET YOU!
Judge not lest ye be judged!!

Answer 2

What a silly question.

If a man steals a frozen chicken, he breaks the law. If he is caught, he must face the consequences.

So far so good.

The problems start when the man is placed on trial. Without using labels, there are certain legal systems in the world which would ensure that the man lose one or both hands.

There are places where he may be tied to a post and lashed.

There are places where he may be hung for the crime.

There are places where he might be imprisoned.

In a civilised society, we take a very different tac. We have (in this case) a magistrate, a defence and a prosecution, but obviously, with more serious crimes, a judge, jury, a defence barrister and a prosecuting counsel.

Back to the frozen chicken.......

If you were a judge, wouldn't you want to known if the man was rich or poor, in good health or on sickness benefit, employed or unemployed, sane or in some way mentally ill, very old or very young, teetotal or alcoholic or perhaps a well known thief or someone with a previously clean record?

THAT is liberal thinking!

A judge must WEIGH UP the evidence and apply the APPROPRIATE sentence.....that's his job.

Of course, you can vote for the adoption of Shariah Law if that is what you want !!!!!!!!

Answer 3

I don't think that it makes sense to say he shouldn't like to think that. We don't want thought police. A man's thought should be his own, even if he's a judge. In any case, you could never really know what someone else is thinking.

It would make sense to say that he shouldn't have said that he likes to think that he's a liberal. Personally, though, I see no harm in his saying this.

I can see no reason to suppose that a judge who says that he likes to think that he's a liberal or who in fact does like to think that he's a liberal would not follow the same guidelines as other judges.

If he'd said "I think I am arrogant" or "I like to think that I have a privileged view of the world" you would have more of a point.

Answer 4

The job of the judicary is simply to interpret the legislative's will, when they start to bring in their own politics this is wrong, they have the power to control both the executive and the legislative but only when they have stepped too far out of line. Separation of Powers and all that!!!!

Answer 5

I know what you mean! It's like saying "I like to think of 20 or 30 paedophiles, Bosnian rapists, and African AIDS victims sleeping on my living room floor, all signing on, while I go out to work as a rent boy to pay for them all". Well, that's what I think of liberals, and their attitude to life.

Answer 6

I have no problem if he reduces a life sentence down to 98 years.

Answer 7

These people are supposedly impartial so should not make such statements,also the sentence should reflect the crime

Answer 8

Just because they're not the conservative 'tough on crime' style doesn't mean to say they're not competent. The point is the punishment has to fit and has to work.

Answer 9

You can't please all of the people all of the time so best not to try. Whatever his opinion he is going to upset someone. I think he would have been better to have kept his mouth shut.

Answer 10

You're absolutely right.