Friday, July 04, 2008

Criminal Justice for Barristers on TV?



Criminal Justice for Barristers?

There is currently a spat going on in the letters page of the Guardian between the bar council and the writer of BBC current prime time drama Criminal Justice. The bar council have objected to the portrayal of barristers in the show. Timothy Dutton QC, chairman of the bar council wrote to the Guardian on the 2nd July. His letter took issue with the way in which the barristers were displayed as underhand, unprincipled and overtly aggressive. The writer Peter Mofat has hit back by stating in a letter published on the 3rd July. It's about time the bar faced up to the fact that, like every other profession, it has brilliant and fair-minded practitioners, those of average ability, and the violent, dishonest and stupid all working within it.”

Moffat is not a callow youthful writer with an axe to grind and no knowledge of the legal system. He is a trained barrister who practiced law for six years. He has an insider’s knowledge of the system. He has written on the legal system before including Kavanagh QC and North Square. Is Moffat holding up a mirror to the underbelly of the criminal justice system or just dramatic license? I am not sure but it does make great TV.

Timothy Dutton Letter


Peter Moffat Letter


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