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24 April 2015 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 7649 / Categories: Features
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Strange but true

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Dominic Regan places judges on the naughty step

Judges are expected to sort out mischief, not make it. The recent decision to dismiss junior members from the bench for watching smut on their office desktop is a sorry story. I was intrigued to learn that the powers that be had satisfied themselves that the material was not illegal. How do you think they were able to do that?

My favourite story in this territory was told by Fred Wedlock, one hit wonder with “The oldest swinger in town”. He recounted the story of the man who on his stag night watched a dubious video which, he sadly discovered, starred his bride-to-be.

Nothing new

There is nothing new about judges saying or doing things that bring the bench into disrepute. The golden age of sharp-tongued judges is now behind us. I had the dubious honour of watching Sir Melford Stevenson in action, trying High Court cases. The most robust barristers were terrified of him. His speciality was utterances that would today have him carted off overnight.

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