Tuesday, November 01, 2016

So its Goodnight From Him

A colleague, who has sometimes posted here as Bystander N, has sent me the following, asking me to put it on the blog. It is gratifying, and I hope that it is true.


  • Tomorrow is a particularly sad day for my bench. I know Bystander and he had no idea I was going to
    write this short piece. Tomorrow he will be officially “past it”, though of course in reality nothing like
    past it and he is as sharp as they come.
    Both here on this blog and in our retiring rooms we will miss his kindness, warmth, immense
    knowledge, sense of fair play, sense of humour and seemingly endless stream of amusing court
    anecdotes.
    I have not always agreed with him on bail and sentence decisions but that’s the way the system
    works. I have learned a great deal from him and I am really sorry he will not be amongst us any
    longer. I have heard him say that he thinks he saw the best of the bench many years ago. He may
    be right but I’m still sure, even if he will not miss all of it, he will miss most of it.
Posted by at

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous1 November 2016 at 22:33

    Commiserations and congratulations are in order. If asked in any detail what the magistracy is about there has for a long time only been one possible answer - Read this blog! And he has managed to continue it despite pressure at times from very high places. I look forward to a short Indian summer of reflections too sensitive for earlier publication. Even if he chooses to stop now, his blog will stand as a magisterial achievement in every sense. Your very good health, sir.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Too old JP.1 November 2016 at 22:53

    Good words Bystander N. It was three years ago for me but every day is the last day for someone.I made some lovely friends and still see many of them. Glad I am still invited to gatherings but we must refrain from continually saying 'we had the best years'. The young ones don't know what we are talking about and it is pretty meaningless anyway. I have new challenges as I am sure the other 'leavers' have as well. It was Larry Grayson who said 'as one door shuts another door closes'. Geddit?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Northerner2 November 2016 at 11:02

    BS,embrace retirement. When the carers permit, my mates and I in the gloaming of winter afternoons often sit around listening to a recording of The Coronation Scot. Inevitably, some wag joins in by shaking a Swann Vesta matchbox in time to the music. What a hoot!!! You are free to join us and could keep time with your gavel. There is much to look forward to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3 November 2016 at 18:29

      Don't get him started about gavels... !

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4 November 2016 at 15:24

      Or biscuits.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous2 November 2016 at 12:41

    I wouldn't be a magistrate but for this blog.

    May your biscuits never be stale again, Bystander, and thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. obat pembesar penis2 November 2016 at 13:03

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous2 November 2016 at 14:37

    I do hope the original Bystander will continue to post, I feel sure things will reach his ears....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous2 November 2016 at 15:43

    This has been an essential read for this nearly finishing magistrate too. Thank you for your insights.

    I agree an indian summer would be interesting - but I suspect you will not want to continue for too long.

    Alas, I doubt any other jp with the same perspicacity will put their head above the parapet as you have done.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The Justice of the Peace2 November 2016 at 16:12

    Come on Bystander....we know who you are. Come out as a retired J.P. free to comment as he thinks without fear or favour.........It`s fun!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous4 November 2016 at 15:30

    It is a shame and a mockery that magistrates are 'retired' at age 70 when over half of the judges that sit on the Supreme Court are over this age.

    Where is the consistency in all of this?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Unknown7 November 2016 at 20:48

    Has anyone noticed the ages of the Supreme Court judges who are to decide if Parliament has a say in law making? All of them are over 60, most of them are over 70. I understand that time needs to pass before a lawyer progresses through the system, but is this right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bystander 7 November 2016 at 21:27

      I am aware of this especially because I have just had to retire from the bench as I was 70 a couple of weeks ago. The age limit applies to all of the judiciary with a few exceptions, and I can live with that. The average defendant before magistrates is around 20, and it won't do to have old codgers judging them. Lord Denning sat into his 80s and his example probably drove the rule change to 70 and out.

      I know a few very senior wigs and I respect them without reservation. They have spent their working lives debating law with equally clever people, so they stay sharp.

      Delete
    2. RF8 November 2016 at 17:43

      The Supreme Court justices retire at 75; more recent appointments have a retirement age of 70.

      Of the 11 justices, 6 are in their 60s and 5 are in their 70s

      Delete
  11. SouthLondonJP9 November 2016 at 12:06

    So the day finally dawned and another one bites the Judicial dust. Enjoy your retirement BS - I along with many others will miss you if you decide this blog has had it's day. As someone who occasionally wrote a piece for it, it was a great escape valve. Be well, be safe. JK x

    ReplyDelete

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