§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions since May 1997 he has had cause(a) to reprimand or (b) take other action about the length of time taken by a judge to deliver judgment following the end of the trial. [121716]
§ Jane KennedyThe Lord Chancellor, as Head of the Judiciary, deals with allegations of judicial misconduct. There have been two occasions where retrials have been necessary because of judicial delay. The Lord Chancellor decided in both to make ex gratia awards of compensation in respect of costs incurred. On both occasions the Judge had resigned or retired.
On a third occasion the Lord Chancellor agreed with the Lord Chief Justice that a Judge should be released from sitting to enable him to complete a number of outstanding judgments. On a fourth occasion the Vice Chancellor issued a rebuke and warning following a delay which was severely criticised by the Court of Appeal. The Lord Chancellor wrote to the Judge, supporting the Vice Chancellor's action.
The Lord Chancellor and the senior judiciary are working to put systems in place to ensure that if there is any possibility of undue delay in the delivery of a judgment, that it is identified early and remedial action taken.