Mr Justice Peter Smith retires
Mr Justice Peter Smith retires
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Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Friday 27th October 2017
quotequote all
This is aimed mainly at toilers in the legal furrows, as they may know who Peter Smith is and why he is controversial. In the manner of a Yorkshire batsman, he is retiring early. Joshua Rozenberg will be pleased, although he has had to wait ten years since first calling for Smith to go, and six months since predicting in May of this year that Smith would go.

It's a pity in many ways, as Smith has a mega clever brain, but judges are paid for judgment, and that hasn't always been his strong point.

http://www.legalcheek.com/2017/04/joshua-rozenberg...

https://www.legalcheek.com/2017/10/mr-justice-pete...

https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/announcements/high-co...




W124Bob

1,863 posts

204 months

Saturday 28th October 2017
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Never heard of Judge Peter Smith despite his connection to my home city, however Joshua Rozenberg(QC hons) quite clearly has a bit of a thing about him. Seems he made a few bad calls and has been on gardening leave since May , hopefully writing his memoirs. Is he in line for knightood, that would get JR(QC hons) frothing. Almost worth it for that alone!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Saturday 28th October 2017
quotequote all
All High Court Judges have knighthoods, and therefore Smith was knighted when appointed to the bench. If you look up Smith's antics, you will see that his removal from the bench is not before time. He is a very bright bloke, but lacks the temperament that is needed in a Judge.

Was Joshua Rozenberg mean to you, or something?

OddCat

2,828 posts

200 months

Saturday 28th October 2017
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Just had a look at the links I the original post. Honestly, how do people like this end up in a significant position of any sort ? Are we really saying he was the best person we had ?

God help us all...

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Saturday 28th October 2017
quotequote all
Any selection process is vulnerable to error, and also people change. Smith was pretty sound for his first few years in post.

By contrast, Lord Chief Justice Thomas was appalling in his early years as a Judge - a shouty rage monster. He was sent on an anger management course and then improved greatly and became quite user-friendly.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Saturday 28th October 2017
quotequote all
I have heard Lord Harley (AKA Alan Blacker) will be replacing him.


anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Saturday 28th October 2017
quotequote all
They have similar hair dos.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Saturday 28th October 2017
quotequote all
I always thought James Robertson Justice would have fitted in well.

An excellent 'presence', and might have become known as 'Justice squared'smile

Red Devil

13,512 posts

237 months

Sunday 29th October 2017
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La Liga said:
I have heard Lord Harley (AKA Alan Blacker) will be replacing him.
roflroflroflroflroflrofl

And don't forget he's no mere poxy Knight: he's an Earl dontchaknow. smile

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Sunday 29th October 2017
quotequote all
ISTR that Blacker was eventually struck off last year, but i stopped following the story as it grew a bit dull after a while.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Sunday 29th October 2017
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We might as well have a general catch up with all the best legal loons. Michael Shrimpton, a barrister who was jailed for a bomb hoax, is still posting far out conspiracy loon nonsense on the whacky US website "Veterans Today". Shrimpton is a Walter Mittyesque "intelligence expert", whose unifying theory of everything is to blame secret German spy agencies. Apparently they have a giant ray gun that they use to cause hurricanes, the fiends!

The Bar Standards Board have suspended Shrimpton, but haven't disbarred him.

.

SantaBarbara

3,244 posts

137 months

Sunday 29th October 2017
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He retired to avoid the disciplinary hearing, did he?

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Sunday 29th October 2017
quotequote all
If you mean Mr Justice Smith, then yes, that seems to be a reasonable inference. Senior coppers occasionally do the same, and doctors used to, although sometimes the GMC won't let a doctor jump and insists that he or she be pushed.

Blacker fought his disciplinary hearing to no avail, appealed to the High Court without success, and was last heard of trying to go to the Court of Appeal.

Shrimpton's disciplinary case seems to be stuck in adjournment jail.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Sunday 29th October 2017
quotequote all
Would there be any pension implications should he be found to have committed misconduct?

That's my fundamental objection to preventing police officers resign / retire at pensionable age as it makes no difference to their pension.

Perhaps that's too much much of a financial view and the message it sends out and the reputational implications are important to some.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Sunday 29th October 2017
quotequote all
I don't know if the pension could have been clobbered if Smith had been found to have misconducted himself. As it is the hearing will not take place and he gets to keep the pension.

carinaman

25,173 posts

201 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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XCP

17,701 posts

257 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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I initially wondered at this thread resurrection.
Then I saw who posted it.

JuniorD

9,013 posts

252 months

Friday 14th February 2020
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QCs and Barristers are 10 a penny nowadays

https://theulsterfry.com/featured/ni-unemployment-...

Graveworm

9,225 posts

100 months

Friday 14th February 2020
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JuniorD said:
QCs and Barristers are 10 a penny nowadays

https://theulsterfry.com/featured/ni-unemployment-...
I like that, for some reason it seems to have some resonance.
clap

carinaman

25,173 posts

201 months

Saturday 15th February 2020
quotequote all
Graveworm said:
JuniorD said:
QCs and Barristers are 10 a penny nowadays

https://theulsterfry.com/featured/ni-unemployment-...
I like that, for some reason it seems to have some resonance.
clap
Indeed, the Top Dog in the Law Society isn't even a Lawyer.