Judicial views and responses

From time to time judges comment in public on matters concerning the administration of justice. In the main they do so in two ways; giving lectures or speeches, and responding to government consultation papers about possible changes. A lecture or a speech may sometimes be made by the Lord Chief Justice or the Head of one of the Divisions, for example the President of the Family Division, in the representative of the judiciary, but normally what is said will be the view of the individual who gives the lecture or makes the speech.

Responses to consultations are normally either the collective view of the judiciary as a whole, or the view of a particular relevant section of it. For example, the Association of District Judges or the Council of Circuit Judges may respond on issues which directly affect their membership.