The civil justice system needs a champion in government
The litigation process gained a substantial airing during election night. Would-be voters locked out of polling booths cried of conspiracy and a breach of their human rights.
The papers were full of talk of actions being brought by “barred” voters to right the wrong of their exclusion. Elections usually give rise to some litigation as the parties and candidates fight over the way in which the election was conducted in an attempt to overturn the returning officers’ decisions.
This election might create more litigation between parties and candidates, particularly where there are very small majorities and there have been instances of exclusion of voters.
In the longer term, what can a new government and Ken Clarke QC promise for the civil justice system? Unfortunately, the civil justice process is likely to be a victim of further cuts in public expenditure. Civil justice is the poor cousin of the criminal justice system when it comes to funding.
However, the civil justice process not only
