§ 27. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Attorney-General if he has now collected the names of the magistrates who combined to pay a fine imposed by other magistrates in Wales; and what action is now being taken.
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has made inquiries into the cases of two of the magistrates who contributed towards the payment of the fine, and whose identity 621 is known. They have explained that they made their contributions privately and with no intention of their identity being disclosed, and the Lord Chancellor has decided to take no further action.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDid these two gentlemen explain to the Lord Chancellor how it became widely known to the Press that a number of Welsh magistrates, as magistrates, had combined to nullify a fine imposed by another bench of Welsh magistrates?
§ The Attorney-GeneralOne was, in fact, a lady; the other was a gentleman. They have revealed that their contributions were made in a private capacity without any intention of their identity being disclosed. In those circumstances the Lord Chancellor decided to take no action. Both my noble Friend and I have reiterated that no one is obliged to accept a judicial appointment, but that, if one does, one must accept it with all that it entails and ensure that one's conduct does not bring the administration of justice into disrepute.
§ Sir P. RawlinsonDoes the Attorney-General agree that this was a contribution made for a political purpose? The private character of a magistrate in such circumstances, when he contributes towards a fine imposed by another judicial officer, cannot be said to be private in that sense, but is a reflection of political views on a case in which there had been a judgment and a fine.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNeither the Lord Chancellor nor myself has expressed approval of what was done. I think that what has been said will probably discourage any repetition.