17 September 2007

On 12 September the Judicial Communications Office issued the following statement. 'There is no justification or public interest served in publishing the home addresses or other private details of judges. It can serve no purpose other than to intrude into the privacy of the judge, and encourage harassment of the judge and his/her family in their family home.

In the case of their court work family judges have to make difficult decisions based on the individual circumstances of a case. By their very nature, these cases are emotional and feelings often run high on the part of a dissatisfied party. However, all parties have the opportunity to express their opinion to the judge in person prior to a decision being made, and the right to seek to appeal decisions that they regard as unfair.

That being so it is inappropriate and irresponsible to publish this form of private information'.