CHAPTER XVI

LAW, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE

Quality of British Justice

Justice for Rich and Poor

Treatment of Law-breakers

Young Offenders

Principles of Reform

Law and Liberty

Freedom of Association

Freedom of Speech and Publication

Freedom of Meeting .

Rule of Law

QUALITY OF BRITISH JUSTICE.

The system of English law and the hierarchy of the courts are
ancient and impressive, and on a strictly legalistic view, they
produce justice. That is to say, they are free from bribery; except
for parts of divorce suits, and when evidence containing military
secrets, is being given, the courts are open to the public and the
Press. This publicity is a safeguard of justice, while the rule that
newspapers may report a case but not comment on it until the
end, prevents the whipping up of sentiment, so as to overawe
the courts and secure verdicts according with momentary feeling
rather than with the facts. Favouritism or malice on account of
the social position, the political or religious beliefs of the accused,
do occasionally appear in the courts of the less worthy J.P.s, but
in a world where many countries have thrown aside even the
pretence of impartiality, ^he record of British justice stands high.
The rules of evidence, the repeated right of appeal against
conviction, and the provision that acquittal at any stage is final,
all combine to secure that if error creeps in it is far more likely
to result in the acquittal of the guilty than the condemnation of
the innocent

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