§ MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)To ask the Secretary of State for the 293 Home Department whether he will consider the propriety of introducing legislation to prevent judicial officers from making any extra judicial explanation, vindication, or apology, such as was published by and purported to have been made to the representative of a daily paper by the chairman of the Middlesex Quarter Sessions in respect of a case decided by such quarter sessions, which was recently reviewed by the Home Office.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I do not see my way to propose any legislation for the purpose indicated. I think the rule of etiquette which forbids a judicial officer from publishing an explanation or defence of his judicial conduct in a newspaper is right and ought to be maintained; but it would be going too far to say that if a chairman of Quarter Sessions, who has been the object of unjustifiable attacks, breaks the rule and attempts to defend himself he is to be subjected to a penalty.