Sir Alan Moses calls on judges to break ‘code of silence’

Writing in the introduction to a report on judicial independence published today by the charity Transform Justice, Sir Alan states: “We need to think about a crucial and profound issue which affects us all: how may judicial independence be protected while judges learn to engage and participate in the communities in which they serve?”

“In the past it was believed that the best way for judges to command respect and avoid ignorant criticism, and even abuse, was to maintain silence,” he adds.

“ is that any longer a bargain that serves the community? It is a bargain which is from time to time broken, noisily and provoking judicial outrage, as the Article 50 cases illustrated.”

He suggests that if judges contribute “with greater vigour and clarity to an explanation of the issues involved and how the judiciary should approach them” then “the ignorance of the criticism would be all the more apparent”.