HL Deb 22 August 1848 vol 101 cc375-6
LORD CAMPBELL

moved to agree to the Commons' Amendments in the Criminal Law Administration Amendment Bill.

LORD DENMAN

said, he had the greatest respect for the House of Commons; but he thought it most outrageous that that which their Lordships had, after full consideration, already rejected, should be again imposed upon them. The Judges had not time to consider the numerous cases which they were at present compelled to decide, and he strongly objected to any such additions to their labours as this measure proposed.

LORD CAMPBELL

observed, that the House of Commons had had this subject before them during the whole of the present Session. That House sent to their Lordships for a copy of their report; they had had the evidence of Lord Lyndhurst, of Lord Denman himself, and of five Judges; they had taken much time to consider the case, and they had reached a deliberate conclusion, which most certainly was entitled to every degree of respect.

LORD DENMAN

said, that the Amendments under consideration involved a question of the most serious importance. The Bill, as it was drawn up, gave to every criminal who did not like his conviction the power to move to set it aside in a court of law. This was a principle which he did not think had as yet been fully discussed.

Motion agreed to.

House adjourned.