Judges speak out

Judges can comment publicly on legal and constitutional issues but should carefully consider the impact on the judiciary when doing so, the Master of the Rolls, Lord Neuberger, has said in a speech on judicial independence.

Giving the Holdsworth Club presidential address this month, Lord Neuberger said it was “not impermissible” for Lady Hale to criticise the government’s legal aid cuts as a “false economy” in a speech last year.

He said judges should exercise “due care” and accept that government can answer back, when commenting on government policy.