Was Lord Denning right?

[grahameb]

Unfortunately Lord Denning put the Law before Justice. The court where he sat for some years of his life has the statue representing justice above its dome. The statue stands holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other The sword represents judgment. The scales represent equity withing that judgment. But the most interesting symbol of this statue is the blindfold. Wikipedia says, "The blindfold represents objectivity, in that justice is or should be meted out objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of identity, money, power, or weakness; blind justice and impartiality."It appears that Lord Denning was not fit to represent the laws of England. For with sentiments like his how can he ever make a just judgment?

Perhaps that is the reason that the statue was made without a blindfold. Most people think it has one, but feel free to look at any photo of the statue above the Central Criminal Courts (Old Bailey). No blindfold. Maybe we should not expect Objectivity or Impartiality.

You're right. There appears to not be one. Have you got a closeup of the statue? It's a bit difficult to see on the small photos. There should be one because everywhere else where justice is depicted there is one.

[bigpod]

Unfortunately Lord Denning put the Law before Justice. The court where he sat for some years of his life has the statue representing justice above its dome. The statue stands holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other The sword represents judgment. The scales represent equity withing that judgment. But the most interesting symbol of this statue is the blindfold. Wikipedia says, "The blindfold represents objectivity, in that justice is or should be meted out objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of identity, money, power, or weakness; blind justice and impartiality."It appears that Lord Denning was not fit to represent the laws of England. For with sentiments like his how can he ever make a just judgment?

Perhaps that is the reason that the statue was made without a blindfold. Most people think it has one, but feel free to look at any photo of the statue above the Central Criminal Courts (Old Bailey). No blindfold. Maybe we should not expect Objectivity or Impartiality.

You're right. There appears to not be one. Have you got a closeup of the statue? It's a bit difficult to see on the small photos. There should be one because everywhere else where justice is depicted there is one.

The following article is nothing to do with JB, but gives a really good image of the statue.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1341500/Call-probation-staff-given-power-cut-offenders-sentences.html

[grahameb]

Unfortunately Lord Denning put the Law before Justice. The court where he sat for some years of his life has the statue representing justice above its dome. The statue stands holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other The sword represents judgment. The scales represent equity withing that judgment. But the most interesting symbol of this statue is the blindfold. Wikipedia says, "The blindfold represents objectivity, in that justice is or should be meted out objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of identity, money, power, or weakness; blind justice and impartiality."It appears that Lord Denning was not fit to represent the laws of England. For with sentiments like his how can he ever make a just judgment?

Perhaps that is the reason that the statue was made without a blindfold. Most people think it has one, but feel free to look at any photo of the statue above the Central Criminal Courts (Old Bailey). No blindfold. Maybe we should not expect Objectivity or Impartiality.

You're right. There appears to not be one. Have you got a closeup of the statue? It's a bit difficult to see on the small photos. There should be one because everywhere else where justice is depicted there is one.

The following article is nothing to do with JB, but gives a really good image of the statue.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1341500/Call-probation-staff-given-power-cut-offenders-sentences.html

Yes thats about the size I can get but it isn't really that clear. As I said it doesn't look as if there is a blindfold? If has one then it isn't that obvious. Perhaps that is why we don't see British justice that often?

[ngb1066]

Unfortunately Lord Denning put the Law before Justice. The court where he sat for some years of his life has the statue representing justice above its dome. The statue stands holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other The sword represents judgment. The scales represent equity withing that judgment. But the most interesting symbol of this statue is the blindfold. Wikipedia says, "The blindfold represents objectivity, in that justice is or should be meted out objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of identity, money, power, or weakness; blind justice and impartiality."It appears that Lord Denning was not fit to represent the laws of England. For with sentiments like his how can he ever make a just judgment?

Perhaps that is the reason that the statue was made without a blindfold. Most people think it has one, but feel free to look at any photo of the statue above the Central Criminal Courts (Old Bailey). No blindfold. Maybe we should not expect Objectivity or Impartiality.

You're right. There appears to not be one. Have you got a closeup of the statue? It's a bit difficult to see on the small photos. There should be one because everywhere else where justice is depicted there is one.

The following article is nothing to do with JB, but gives a really good image of the statue.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1341500/Call-probation-staff-given-power-cut-offenders-sentences.html

Yes thats about the size I can get but it isn't really that clear. As I said it doesn't look as if there is a blindfold? If has one then it isn't that obvious. Perhaps that is why we don't see British justice that often?

There is a blindfold.  It is not clear on the photograph.

[grahameb]

Unfortunately Lord Denning put the Law before Justice. The court where he sat for some years of his life has the statue representing justice above its dome. The statue stands holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other The sword represents judgment. The scales represent equity withing that judgment. But the most interesting symbol of this statue is the blindfold. Wikipedia says, "The blindfold represents objectivity, in that justice is or should be meted out objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of identity, money, power, or weakness; blind justice and impartiality."It appears that Lord Denning was not fit to represent the laws of England. For with sentiments like his how can he ever make a just judgment?

Perhaps that is the reason that the statue was made without a blindfold. Most people think it has one, but feel free to look at any photo of the statue above the Central Criminal Courts (Old Bailey). No blindfold. Maybe we should not expect Objectivity or Impartiality.

You're right. There appears to not be one. Have you got a closeup of the statue? It's a bit difficult to see on the small photos. There should be one because everywhere else where justice is depicted there is one.

The following article is nothing to do with JB, but gives a really good image of the statue.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1341500/Call-probation-staff-given-power-cut-offenders-sentences.html

Yes thats about the size I can get but it isn't really that clear. As I said it doesn't look as if there is a blindfold? If has one then it isn't that obvious. Perhaps that is why we don't see British justice that often?

There is a blindfold.  It is not clear on the photograph.

Perhaps she lifted it whilst no one was looking.

[bigpod]

There is definitely no blindfold. You can magnify the picture I posted earlier by up to 400% on your browser, and the eyes are clear. However, just to confirm (one link out of many)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Justice

[ngb1066]

There is definitely no blindfold. You can magnify the picture I posted earlier by up to 400% on your browser, and the eyes are clear. However, just to confirm (one link out of many)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Justice

I stand corrected, apologies.  It shows how you sometimes see what you expect to see.

[grahameb]

There is definitely no blindfold. You can magnify the picture I posted earlier by up to 400% on your browser, and the eyes are clear. However, just to confirm (one link out of many)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Justice

I stand corrected, apologies.  It shows how you sometimes see what you expect to see.

Yes she took it of in the night. Clearly some of them have blindfolds and others do not? Have you just discovered that Bitish Law is not just after all? Something I've said for years.

[Steve]

There is definitely no blindfold. You can magnify the picture I posted earlier by up to 400% on your browser, and the eyes are clear. However, just to confirm (one link out of many)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Justice

I stand corrected, apologies.  It shows how you sometimes see what you expect to see.

The blindfold is mentioned in the wihipedia link given above.

[grahameb]

There is definitely no blindfold. You can magnify the picture I posted earlier by up to 400% on your browser, and the eyes are clear. However, just to confirm (one link out of many)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Justice

I stand corrected, apologies.  It shows how you sometimes see what you expect to see.

The blindfold is mentioned in the wihipedia link given above.

Yes I know. That's why I took it as gospel. But apparently Wikipedia is wrong?

[OnceSaid]

There is definitely no blindfold. You can magnify the picture I posted earlier by up to 400% on your browser, and the eyes are clear. However, just to confirm (one link out of many)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Justice

You are correct.  The first link was Lady Justice at the Old Bailey.
On the dome above the court stands a bronze statue of Lady Justice, executed by British sculptor F. W. Pomeroy. She holds a sword in her right hand and the scales of justice in her left. The statue is popularly supposed to show blind Justice; however, the figure is not blindfolded: the courthouse brochures explain that this is because Lady Justice was originally not blindfolded, and because her “maidenly form” is supposed to guarantee her impartiality which renders the blindfold redundant.[3]

[grahameb]

There is definitely no blindfold. You can magnify the picture I posted earlier by up to 400% on your browser, and the eyes are clear. However, just to confirm (one link out of many)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Justice

You are correct.  The first link was Lady Justice at the Old Bailey.
On the dome above the court stands a bronze statue of Lady Justice, executed by British sculptor F. W. Pomeroy. She holds a sword in her right hand and the scales of justice in her left. The statue is popularly supposed to show blind Justice; however, the figure is not blindfolded: the courthouse brochures explain that this is because Lady Justice was originally not blindfolded, and because her “maidenly form” is supposed to guarantee her impartiality which renders the blindfold redundant.[3]

And so the legal bods reason. The trouble is that it completely ignores the faults within human nature. Which cannot avoid being biased. Therefore the blindfold is an essential piece of equipment to my mind.

[jon]

There is definitely no blindfold. You can magnify the picture I posted earlier by up to 400% on your browser, and the eyes are clear. However, just to confirm (one link out of many)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Justice

I stand corrected, apologies.  It shows how you sometimes see what you expect to see.

NGB , if you don't mind me asking , what would you do with the CCRC to make it a better body at fighting MOJ ?

[ngb1066]

There is definitely no blindfold. You can magnify the picture I posted earlier by up to 400% on your browser, and the eyes are clear. However, just to confirm (one link out of many)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Justice

I stand corrected, apologies.  It shows how you sometimes see what you expect to see.

NGB , if you don't mind me asking , what would you do with the CCRC to make it a better body at fighting MOJ ?

It is a difficult question to answer.  The idea behind the CCRC was very good and it was given extensive powers to obtain evidence (including evidence withheld under PII) and to carry out its own independent investigations.  In theory the new set up appeared to be a significant improvement on the old system of having to persuade the Home Secretary to refer a case back to the Court of Appeal.  In practice the CCRC has proved to be incredibly slow.  It has also seemed reluctant to use to the full its powers to obtain evidence and appears to be very cautious in its approach to cases.

As far as a solution to the problem is concerned in my experience it is always difficult to improve something once it has gone off course.  Additional resources would enable cases to be processed more quickly but would not change the attitude of the CCRC towards cases.  A complete overhaul at the top would be a good start, with most of the current Commissioners being replaced.  A new Chief Executive could be appointed, with a remit to transform the CCRC into a body which does what it was established to do.

I think that there is one simple change which would assist with some miscarriages of justice. I believe that someone convicted should have the power to make an appeal against conviction to the Court of Appeal without having first to persuade the CCRC to refer the case.  At present a defendant has the right to appeal immediately following the trial, but does not have a further right of appeal unless the case is referred by the CCRC. 
 

[jon]

Cheer's NGB !!