‘Recent and repeated public attacks on the legal profession, as well as judges’ by politicians undermine trust in the justice system, Bar Council chair Sam Townend KC has warned
In an excoriating speech at the annual Bar Conference, in London last week, Townend—referring to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 and the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024—said: ‘Just this year we have had legislation that, in one instance, reverses a finding of fact of the Supreme Court, and in another, removes from the Court of Appeal and gives to Parliament and a minister the power to determine the safety of criminal convictions.
‘These are truly undesirable precedents. In one sense worst of all—as Parliament had no involvement—we have had a ministerial statement identifying an intention to appoint 150 more judges for the specific purpose of administering the Rwanda legislation, including stating that those judges are to work weekends and evenings—in effect treating judges like cattle under the direction of the Executive.’
