Law's Majesty

NZ Truth, Issue 1189, 13 September 1928, Page 6

Law's Majesty

IT has recently become obvious ■ that the. tactics: pursued , by certain, barristers ;; and^solicitors make strong measures; imperative 1 if the traditional ■; dignity ' . o i British courts, the majesty of the law— an important factor men - suring justice— is to be maintained. This traditional dignity .:" and decorum is one of the characterr istics that;" gives .the Briitisli judicial system its high place m the 1 eyes of the world. . . „. '. .. . . In that system the judge has almost unlimited power on the question, of contempt, but because; of this very facit, and because the exercise of it against an offending lawyer may : affect the rights of litigants, judges are loth td exercise such power. Thus often minor breaches of court etiquette pass unchecked. But certain lawyers, being allowed an inch, are apparently inclined to take an ell. This attitude would seem to call for the introduction of a middle course, where the offending lawyer could be curbed by some penalty short of committal for contempt. It is necessary that a system be instituted whereby the judge could report the offender to the Full Court, the Law Institute, for disciplinary 1 measures. '.' ...-'.; .-■'•. ■'•' .. .'- ; i. • \