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Thursday, July 04, 2024

"Yes, Prime Minister" on Criminal Procedure

On Independence Day and British General Election Day, let's take a look at this gem:

PM Hacker: I want to trace the culprit.

Sir Humphrey: Yes, Prime Minister.

Hacker: And I want a prosecution.

Sir Humphrey: Yes, Prime Minister.

Hacker: And I want a conviction.

Sir Humphrey: (pause) We can try and trace the culprit, we can prosecute, but under the present political system, there are problems about the government actually guaranteeing a conviction.

Hacker: A little drinkie with the judge?

Sir Humphrey: It's unthinkable. There is no way any pressure can be placed on a British judge.

Hacker: Well how does one secure a conviction?

Sir Humphrey: Well simple, you find a judge who won't need any pressure put on him.

Hacker: Oh.

Sir Humphrey: A quiet word with the Lord Chancellor, find a judge who's hoping to be made a Lord of Appeal, and then leave justice to take her own impartial and majestic course.

Hacker: And that does the trick?

Sir Humphrey: Well not always. Sometimes they're so obviously trying for a conviction, that the jury acquits out of sheer bloody-mindedness.

Hacker: So you need a judge with a bit of common sense as well.

Sir Humphrey: Ah yes.

Hacker: Won't be as easy as you make out.

Posted by Gerard Magliocca on July 4, 2024 at 09:04 AM | Permalink

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