The role of the judge in a diverse community

Authors: Geoffrey Kamil

Publish Date: 2009/03/19

Volume: 10, Issue: 1, Pages: 125-137

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Abstract

In a world of constantly increasing diversity in which equal treatment becomes a priority the role of the judge is critical in guaranteeing that before court no discrimination takes place This article presents initiatives taken by judges in the UK in order to enhance mutual trust and respect between the different social communities and the judiciary By describing the work of the Equal Treatment Advisory Committee HHJudge Kamil underlines the importance of judicial training in increasing judges’ awareness of the different communities’ sensitivities and in ensuring the fair use of judgecraft Furthermore he presents the ‘Diversity and Community Relations Judges’ an initiative aspiring to bring the different social communities closer to the judiciary By organising events such as visits to the communities community visits to the court or mock courts by involving the media or by participating in discussions they try to engage the communities in the policy and social decisions that affect them inform them on the role of the judiciary as well as identify emerging communities and avoid any crisis based on lack of knowledge without however compromising the judiciary’s independence

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