Judges attack rape case reforms - bbc web site

[mummytosteven]

"Judges attack rape case reforms

Government reforms were aimed at reducing rape victims' trauma
Judges have attacked government reforms aimed at preventing rape victims being questioned in court over their sexual history as "fundamentally flawed".
The law was introduced in 2001 to stop alleged sex offences victims being asked about their sex lives unless the information was relevant to the case.

But a Criminal Bar Association report says the legislation is too restrictive as it denies judges discretion.

Most of 70 judges interviewed said the changes were too "victim orientated".

The report, containing the opinions of leading members of the judiciary, criticised the Home Office.

It said the measures were initially "unworkable" until the Law Lords ruled on how they should be applied.

It said the reforms tended to assume people who made allegations of sexual assault were necessarily victims - an assumption which coloured their attitude to the trial process"

Is it me, or is the last sentence quite shocking?

yes it is it gives the impression that Judges do not treat rape seriously

The way I interpreted it was that the insinuation was that people who allege sexual assault are quite likely to be liars/mistaken tho didn't know if that was just paranoia!

yes it's like teh attitude the judge had when he suggested a girl go on holiday to get over it. and how all sorts of excuses are made as to whythe perpertrator did it. ALso only bout 2% of reported rapes go to trail and result in a conviction so there must be something wrong with the system

The ratio of male to female judges being what it is, this doesn't surprise me.

I heard this story on the news last night, but what is interesting is that I haven't actually heard it reported why it's too restrictive and why they think it's not working. What is it that they are specifically scared of? Do they honestly think that innocent men are being found guilty of rape because lawyers are not allowed to ask a woman how many people she's slept with in the past? I'd be interested to know exactly what their reservations are.

Judges don't just live in a world of their own they live in an entirely different universe! Almost every sentence handed down proves that they are completely out-of-touch with what is really happening in the "real" world.