Criminal Barristers respect the Criminal Justice System and the rule of law. We act according to the law. We are independent and it is that independence which is at the heart of the work that we do. When barristers prosecute, giving a voice to the vulnerable, we must not strive for a conviction at any cost, but must prosecute fairly and impartially. When barristers defend, we must test and probe the evidence, and do so fearlessly, regardless of gravity of the crime or the understandable public outrage at it. Criminal Barristers present the evidence that we are provided with and, whatever the result, the public can have confidence that that evidence was explored fully, rigorously tested and where there has been a conviction, that it follows a fair trial, giving closure to victims and witnesses alike and where there has been a not guilty verdict, that the verdict was right in fact and law.
In order to make best use of every precious hour of Court time, our criminal barristers have worked long into the night and often most of the weekend. This comes at a cost to our social and family lives, our health and our wellbeing. We have to consider the wellbeing of all the barristers from pupils, juniors, senior juniors and Silks of the Criminal Bar of England and Wales. The CBA has a Wellbeing Protocol and we urge all our members to follow it where they can.
Whether we can persuade them to remain and whether we can recruit and retain the next generation depends on what happens this year and in the years that follow it.
We respect and appreciate the independence and skill of the Judiciary. Judges, Barristers, Criminal Solicitors and Paralegals, the Crown Prosecution Service, Court staff, Witness Service, Probation Service, Intermediaries, Interpreters, Court Security and Prison Staff all work together to ensure that the vulnerable can be heard and trials are fair and properly conducted. But we can only do so at the pace that the long term lack of financial investment into the system permits.
Respect works both ways. There has been a growing lack of respect towards criminal barristers and an assumption from the previous Government, Court administrators and the civil service that this garden of public service never needs watering or tending. We want our profession to continue but there is a price to pay. When praise was rightly being handed out to the Police, the Judiciary and to the CPS for their managing of the recent public order offences within the criminal justice system, little or no mention was made of the Barristers or Solicitors with Higher Rights of Audience who conducted the prosecutions and defences of those cases in court.
Being Chair of the Criminal Bar Association is a matter of public service. It is my honour and privilege to work with the Vice Chair, Riel Karmy-Jones KC, our Treasurer, James Gray, our Secretary, James Oliveira-Agnew and our Assistant Secretary Chloe Ashley. The entire CBA relies on the brilliance of our Administrator, Aaron Dolan, and our talented Director of Communications, James Rossiter. We are assisted by our excellent committees who work tirelessly for us all. Together, we will all be working for you, representing the interests of the Criminal Bar. We will all do our best to ensure that your dedication and talent is respected.
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