What's a website, asks British High Court judge at internet terrorism trial

MarcusGarveyLives · (#1 (**permalink**))

[align=left]Mr Justice Peter Openshaw told stunned prosecutors at Woolwich Crown Court in south London: "The trouble is I don't understand the language. I don't really understand what a website is." [/align]
[align=left]... read the shocking story here ...[/align]
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[align=center]Note: Mr Justice Peter Openshaw was educated at Harrow and St Catharine's College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1970 and took Silk in 1991. [/align]

[align=center]He was appointed Assistant Recorder in 1985, Recorder in 1988 and a Senior Circuit Judge in 1999, since when he has sat as Resident Judge and Honorary Recorder of Preston. [/align]

umbrarchist · (#2 (**permalink**))

Is an ignorant judge grounds for a mistrial in England?

bighairlol

um

huzzah · (#3 (**permalink**))

umbrarchist wrote:

Quote:

Is an ignorant judge grounds for a mistrial in England?

bighairlol

um

Nah, he will get promoted - this is culture in England. Promote the imcompetent as long they have the "the right educationalbackground".

Anyone would have thought that a judge who iscovering atrial about theInternetwould at least done some research before the trial - but that's to much to ask for someone that gets paid Â£100,000+ a year.

milesdavis · (#4 (**permalink**))

Statement from the Judicial Communications Office: Mr Justice Openshaw

17 May 2007

A media report on a judge reported as saying â€œI donâ€™t really understand what a website isâ€? has been taken out of context

News reports have appeared implying that Mr Justice Openshaw, in the course of proceedings, did not understand the term â€˜websiteâ€™.

In fact the Judge is currently in the fifth week of presiding over a trial which is largely based on computer generated evidence. Evidence is being provided by expert witnesses that will inevitably be of a specialist nature.

Trial judges always seek to ensure that everyone in court is able to follow all of the proceedings. They will regularly ask questions â€“ not for their own benefit â€“ but on behalf of all those following a case, in the interests of justice.

In this specific case, immediately prior to the judgeâ€™s comment, the prosecution counsel had referred to various internet forums with postings of comments relevant to the case. Mr Justice Openshaw was simply clarifying the evidence presented, in an easily understandable form for all those in court.

Mr Justice Openshaw is entirely computer literate and indeed has taken notes on his own computer in court for many years.

http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/publications_media/general/openshaw_170507.htm