Sensible Sentencing Trust Will Never Support Vigilantism
 
Sensational claims that the Sensible Sentencing Trust’s “Judge the Judges” website will be akin to an online version of talkback radio to “name and shame” are completely off the mark.
 
“We have never supported or advocated vigilantism and we never will” said Ruth Money of Sensible Sentencing Trust this morning. “Garth McVicar has never said that, I have never said that, and no person speaking on behalf of Sensible Sentencing – as opposed to their own personal view – has ever said that” Ms Money said.
 
“I am somewhat bemused by ill informed comments in the media from lawyers and others on the proposed ‘Judge the Judges’ website.  I have said repeatedly that the website is a work in progress, and a great deal more needs to be done before it goes live.” Money said.
 
“We are always most anxious to ensure that we act completely within the law, and take legal advice whenever we feel we are getting into a grey area” Ms Money said.
 
“What I can say at this point is the comments from the Criminal Bar Association that the website will be a form of online talkback are completely wrong. There will be no facility for anonymous online comments.  The site simply provides a single source of reference for significant Judicial decisions.”
 
“That is what the media is supposed to do now – act as the surrogate of the people, and obtain and publish information about what is happening in our courts”
 
“The blatant sensationalism and misquoting that has occurred this morning suggests that some elements in  the media are not doing a very good job of accurately reporting what is said, and what is happening in the criminal justice arena.”
 
“Our website – when it is finished – will provide people with another source of information to assist them in deciding whether the sentences and other decisions handed down by our Judges are the appropriate ones” said Money.

ENDS

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