Access to justice for children
I write with reference to the letter by Kevin Mahoney, director general (Courts) (May 15) as another response to the exchange on access to justice by children. One central point of the issue rests precisely, as Mr Mahoney puts it, on the practice that...
I write with reference to the letter by Kevin Mahoney, director general (Courts) (May 15) as another response to the exchange on access to justice by children.
One central point of the issue rests precisely, as Mr Mahoney puts it, on the practice that "it is the court which decides when and in which cases it should appoint a children's advocate". Given the statistics relating to the number of cases involving children (and this is not only in the Family Court), how can one interpret the low numbers he quotes other than by confirming a gap in access to justice. Furthermore, I cannot imagine what "precipitous and preconceived ideas" Mr Mahoney is alluding to, unless academic research is to merit such a description.
The director general of the courts of justice has no authority to enact legislation to correct this lacuna so it is difficult to understand why he should feel this is criticism directed at him or the court system he administers. Basic principles of access to justice require legislation first.