Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Deferred
Paragraph: 116
Consider implementing a press judges model to proactively disseminate information on sentencing judgments.
Conclusion
In order to improve the quality of information in the public domain on sentencing, the judiciary should consider whether the model of press judges, as used in Finland and the Netherlands, could be used. The changing nature of the media landscape means that there is a strong case for taking a more proactive approach to providing information to the public on judgments, including sentencing.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government deflects the recommendation to consider using "press judges" by stating that the Sentencing Council has a duty to publish and promote awareness of sentencing matters and will respond to the recommendation.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
116
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
62. In the UK it is a fundamental constitutional principle that, outside judgments on appeal, judges do not comment publicly on the decisions of other judges. We consider this to be an important principle of judicial independence. Any consideration of the approach used in other countries is not for government but a matter for the judiciary.
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