Comments on: White judges and wigs http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/ Everyone has a right to my opinions Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:34:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Matt Munro http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130931 Matt Munro Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:54:55 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130931 "Diverse or homogenous - which is worse?" Diverse is easier to spell............. “Diverse or homogenous - which is worse?”

Diverse is easier to spell………….

]]> By: Robert http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130720 Robert Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:16:24 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130720 I'm guessing the thought behind this drive for diversity is that judges, like other senior 'establishment' figures, are seen as role models, and therefore an increase in women and ethnic minority representation would be a good thing. Furthermore, those from a different background may have a greater understanding of both the social causes of crime, and its impacts, which would have a positive effect on sentencing. But as Matt says, there is something in homogenity when it comes to the way judges are percieved by those in the dock. That's why my wig masks are such a great idea, because we get the best of both worlds. I'm surprised it hasn't caught on yet. I’m guessing the thought behind this drive for diversity is that judges, like other senior ‘establishment’ figures, are seen as role models, and therefore an increase in women and ethnic minority representation would be a good thing. Furthermore, those from a different background may have a greater understanding of both the social causes of crime, and its impacts, which would have a positive effect on sentencing.

But as Matt says, there is something in homogenity when it comes to the way judges are percieved by those in the dock.

That’s why my wig masks are such a great idea, because we get the best of both worlds. I’m surprised it hasn’t caught on yet.

]]> By: jameshigham http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130717 jameshigham Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:24:59 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130717 Diverse or homogenous - which is worse? Diverse or homogenous - which is worse?

]]> By: Clarice http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130706 Clarice Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:23:27 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130706 I haven't really thought about who judges should represent, but I <i>do</i> think at the very least they should be of demonstrable intelligence and quality education. Otherwise you may as well do away with the whole thing, and just let the Daily Mail decide. I haven’t really thought about who judges should represent, but I do think at the very least they should be of demonstrable intelligence and quality education. Otherwise you may as well do away with the whole thing, and just let the Daily Mail decide.

]]> By: Matt Munro http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130660 Matt Munro Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:23:56 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130660 I thought the whigs and gowns were for the benefit of the accused, to de-personalise the process and make the judge symbolic of the "state" rather than an individual. More pertinent in the days when judges handed down death penalties I'd imagine. I read a bit of research about 10 years ago when the idea of court officials being in civvies was first mooted, and the group most in favour of the retention of formal dress were convicetd criminals. Agree with Clarice that judges should represent the establishment rather than "the people". From a liberal perspective, it's likely that having a more representative judiciary would result in harsher sentencing - as judges are currently, to a large extent, removed from the daily reality of life. Like the new look BTW. I thought the whigs and gowns were for the benefit of the accused, to de-personalise the process and make the judge symbolic of the “state” rather than an individual. More pertinent in the days when judges handed down death penalties I’d imagine. I read a bit of research about 10 years ago when the idea of court officials being in civvies was first mooted, and the group most in favour of the retention of formal dress were convicetd criminals.

Agree with Clarice that judges should represent the establishment rather than “the people”. From a liberal perspective, it’s likely that having a more representative judiciary would result in harsher sentencing - as judges are currently, to a large extent, removed from the daily reality of life.

Like the new look BTW.

]]> By: Clarice http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130644 Clarice Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:19:41 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2008/01/28/white-judges-and-wigs/#comment-130644 I should blooming well hope they are privately educated, judging by the mess of the rest of the education system in this country! And in this age of dumbing-down and mickey-mouse and degrees-for-all, I should jolly well hope they <i>are</i> from Oxbridge, that last dying bastion of a proper education. Long may this state of affairs continue, be they black, white, or purple! I should blooming well hope they are privately educated, judging by the mess of the rest of the education system in this country!

And in this age of dumbing-down and mickey-mouse and degrees-for-all, I should jolly well hope they are from Oxbridge, that last dying bastion of a proper education.

Long may this state of affairs continue, be they black, white, or purple!

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