Review: The Justices' Handbook
| Published date | 01 January 1948 |
| Date | 01 January 1948 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/002201834801200111 |
| Subject Matter | Review |
Review.
THE JUSTICES' HANDBOOK,
by
J.
P. Eddy, K.C. Crown Octavo. pp. xvi,
148.
Net
7s.
ea.
Stevens &Sons
Ltd.
In
1945 Lord Oaksey presided over a gathering of persons interested
in Magistrates' Courts, when
it
was considered
that
Magistrates would
welcome a concise handbook to assist them in
the
discharge of their
duties. This handbook owes its inception to
that
gathering and within
the
limits of so small a book, one
must
agree with
the
author
that
it
does
give Justices a real approach to
the
issues
they
have to decide.
It
is
not
a law book in
the
ordinary sense,
but
asummary of
the
more important
duties of a Justice,
and
the
matters with which he has to deal. An
admirable first chapter elaborating
the
theme
that
Justices should dis-
charge their duties with efficiency, impartiality, courtesy, patience and
a real desire to do justice, is followed by a brief reference to some funda-
mental principles of criminal law
and
practice. Mr.
Eddy
has wisely
corrected
the
popular belief
that
everyone is presumed
to
know
the
law,
by quoting
the
proper
principle-that
ignorance of
the
law does
not
excuse. A chapter briefly dealing with
the
salient features of several
offences is useful, as also are
the
notes on
the
issue of summonses
and
warrants.
The
notes on rules of evidence are too brief
to
be of real
value,
but
achapter on procedure will be found to be helpful. Atable
of punishments is accurate,
but
a reference to endorsement of driving
licences is needed in relation to
the
penalty for exceeding speed limit
and
that
for careless driving. Probation and Juvenile Courts are covered
adequately and there- is a chapter on Domestic Proceedings. The note
on orders on
the
ground of adultery would have been improved by a
reference to
the
significance of condonation, connivance and conduoe-
ment.
The book concludes with a useful list of ministers, officials
and
organisations concerned with Magistrates' Courts.
The
book is
not
one for
the
practitioner,
but
should be most helpful
to Justices of
the
Peace, especially those newly appointed.
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