JUDGE'S PHILOSOPHY

Chronicle (Levin), 30 July 1946, Page 8

JUDGE'S PHILOSOPHY

AVELLTXGTON, .Tulv 28. Soine of the philosophy of a .Tudge vvlio luis spent 17 vears on the Beneh was revealed by Ihe Chief Justiee (Sir Miehael Alyers) :it tlie eriniinal sessions of the Supreme Court last week, .wlien liis Honour referred to the senleneing of prisoners, partieularly young ol'fenders. j "1 sun nlways eonseioiis of a gravo. resjioiisibility, ti responsibility to whieli, the late lainl Chief Justiee of England, f aird Hewart, has referred, eoueerning Ihe senteneing of young inen 1o prison for Ihe firsf time," said hls Tlonour. "The Court should ahvavs eildon vour in the-interests of Society ti '•onvert a potential or ax'tual- eriniijijil into a deeent eitizen and should bewape of senteneing in sue.h a way as to '*be in danger of eonverting a deeent eitizen into a noteutial eriniinal. " Moderalion and lenieney should be shown whercver possible eonsistent uitli tlie prot eet ion of soeietv. Many ol'fenders iiave responded to that treatnient . Beverity of senlenee should be reserved for e.riines of violenee, ravishers of women, those who debaueh and interfere with young girls, tlie eontrtmiuators of the inale youth of the eoniniunity, tuni hopele.ss incorrigibles. " rt has been a eoinfort for me fo know, in those eases where oue is conseious of imposiiig a severo sentenee, the prisoner lias the right of appeal against sentenee. Tf ii has been suggested that nty sentences have been Ino lenieiit, I would rather have it that way tlian have it said that they were too linrsln"